In an era of growing sensitivities on long-term plan sustainability and affordability, cost-containment measures such as mandatory generic substitution are being implemented more broadly. While mandatory generic substitution seems a reasonable strategy in theory, a growing body of evidence highlights the risks of applying this rule to all drug categories irrespective of drug formulation or health condition treated.
Not all drugs work the same way in each person. Nor are all drugs designed or formulated the same way. This is particularly true in the case of drugs used to treat mental health conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Changes in ADHD medication therapies can have high patient and societal costs.
In Pursuit of Drug Plan Cost Savings—But at What Cost?, sponsored by Janssen, explores the issue of plan designs and the need to balance short- and long-term costs with benefits for the employee and the plan sponsor.