Dr. Barnett said he often sees patients who are chronically suicidal, and they frequently are given 90-day supplies of medications to treat their mental health conditions.
But intentional overdose is the most common method of attempting suicide in the U.S., and antidepressants are responsible for 45 percent of suicides involving prescription drugs, Dr. Barnett wrote.
His patients often tell him their insurers won’t cover smaller doses.
Since 2008, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers have pushed 90-day prescriptions instead of the once-standard 30-day supply because it saves insurers money by decreasing dispensing fees.
Physicians often have to call insurers directly to ask them to cover smaller quantities, but even then insurers often deny the requests, according to Dr. Barnett.
In 2012, the American Psychiatric Association asked insurers to allow physicians to determine prescription quantities, but no change was made, Dr. Barnett wrote.
Many states now allow pharmacists to change 30-day supplies to 90-day supplies at their discretion, without consulting the prescribing physician. Even if a physician writes “dispense as written” on the prescription, Dr. Barnett wrote that many pharmacists at large pharmacy chains ignore those instructions because they’re under pressure from their employers to give out 90-day supplies.
Dr. Barnett said that mental health is still an afterthought for too many and that “costs can be trimmed without putting patients’ lives in jeopardy.”
Read the full article here.
More articles on pharmacy:
How 4 hospital pharmacies are improving operations
The 10 most-valued pharma brands in the world
Merck to create spinoff women’s health company, focus on Keytruda
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.