Effect of Medication Copayment on Adherence and Discontinuation in Medicare Beneficiaries with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Administrative Claims Database Analysis.

Introduction: Nonadherence to antihyperglycemic agents (AHAs) increases the incidence of morbidity and mortality, as well as healthcare-related costs, in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This study examined the association between medication copayment and adherence and discontinuation among elderly patients with T2D who use generic versus branded AHAs.

Methods: A retrospective, observational cohort study used Medicare administrative claims data (index period: 1 June 2012 to 31 December 2013). Drug copayments were measured as the copayment of the index medication for a 30-day supply after patients met their plan deductible. Patients were stratified into a branded or generic cohort based on the index medication. Adherence was measured by the proportion of days covered (≥ 80%) and discontinuation by a treatment gap of > 60 days in 10 months during the follow-up period. Poisson regressions were conducted for medication adherence and discontinuation, while controlling for demographic, clinical, and comorbid conditions.

Results: Overall, 160,250 patients on AHA monotherapy were included in the analysis; 131,594 (82%) were prescribed a generic and 28,656 (18%) a branded AHA with a mean copay of $6 and $41, respectively. Increases in copayment increased nonadherence and discontinuation for branded medications but not for generic AHA medications. In both cohorts, elderly patients (≥ 75 years of age) had a lower risk of nonadherence and discontinuation. Black patients had a higher risk of nonadherence or discontinuing medication. Patients having more frequent inpatient, emergency room, and/or physician visits were at higher risk of nonadherence or discontinuing therapy in the branded and generic cohorts (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The impact of drug copayment on adherence and discontinuation varied considerably between branded and generic AHAs. Medicare patients taking branded AHAs had a higher risk of nonadherence with increasing copayment and were more likely to discontinue medication, whereas this association was not observed in patients taking generic medications.

Funding: Merck & Co, Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. Plain language summary available for this article.