Survey: Health Account Plans Cut Use Of Generics

The increase in deductibles and utilization decreases cut drug plan costs 62% at the bigger employer and 24% at the smaller employer, and health account holders at both employers cut use of brand-name medications by more than 13%, the researchers write.

But the researchers believe that some of those employees ended up doing without needed medications, because the plans reported no significant increase in use of generic drugs.

At the traditional plans, use of brand-name drugs held steady, but use of generic drugs increased, the researchers report.

Total prescription use may have fallen at the health account plans partly because members began using new, over-the-counter versions of anti-ulcer drugs, but researchers should do more studies to see whether the decrease in utilization is affecting health plan members’ health, the researchers conclude.