Profession
Costs of noncompliance spur reform call
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 24, 2009
Between a third and a half of patients do not take drugs as prescribed, and these patients are more likely to be hospitalized, the report said. Noncompliant patients' annual health expenses total nearly $16,500 per patient, more than double the cost of caring for patients with chronic illnesses who adhere to their medication regimens, according to the report, "Thinking Outside the Pillbox: A System-wide Approach to Improving Patient Medication for Chronic Disease."
The institute said the health system should be reformed to encourage health care teams, patient engagement and education, and health information technology.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/24/prbf0824.htm.
