Physician Dispensing Costs and Consequences
WCRI – Physician dispensing costs and consequences major findings
- Most reforms are price focused
- Prices paid for physician dispensed drugs decreased substantially after post-reform
- Fewer physician dispensed drugs after reform
- Reforms may not be sustainable due to new drug strengths
18 states made changes to rules – reforms
Informs were mainly price focused
Not all reforms may have worked – Illinois had a large price increase post-reform on such drugs as Vicodin(r). CA had increase in Cyclobenzaprine.
Price difference between physician dispensed and non-physician dispensed were reduced after reforms, but is still yet a sizable difference.
One of the main concerns is the sustainability of the reforms.
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Does Physician Dispensing Lead to Unnecessary Opioid Use?
Florida banned Schedule II and III controlled substances was banned effective July 1, 2011. Florida Pill Mill Bill (House Bill 7095)
Amount of physician dispensing of stronger opioids – fell in Florida from 3.9%to .5% post reform. NSAID’s and weaker opioids that were physician dispensed remained flat or increased slightly.
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Pharmaceutical Trends, Lessons, and Injured Workers Outcomes in the California Workers Compensation System
Physician dispensed Zantac had a 900% cost increase over pharmacy dispensed during a pre-reform period.
Physician dispensing did not delay return to work periods when compared to pharmacy dispensed medications.
Pharmaceutical Practitioner
Workers Comp is a different world from health insurance in reference to physician dispensed medications. The physician vs. pharmacy dispensed medications has been a long-standing turf war ever since doctors made house calls.
Q&A Session WCRI – Physician Dispensing
A great point was brought out that another area of cost shifting is WC as health pays much less for physician dispensed medications.
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