Generic initiation and antidepressant therapy adherence under Medicare Part D.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To assess the effect of initiating antidepressant therapy with a generic prescription on adherence to antidepressant therapy among Medicare patients. A second objective is to assess how the effect might be moderated by the Medicare Part D coverage gap.

Study design and methods

Adherence to antidepressant therapy was measured by (a lack of) disruption in medication use defined by a gap of 30 days or more in antidepressant possession and monthly days of possession, both measured over 180 days since antidepressant initiation. We used a 5% random sample of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries who received a new depression diagnosis in the first half of 2007 and initiated antidepressant therapy within 60 days (n = 16,778). We estimated a Cox proportional hazard model

SUBMITTER: Bao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3921685 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature