COVID-19 Sufferers And Adherence Concerns

As the number of COVID-19 sufferers in the United States is still increasing, some pharmacologists, and other health care specialists are concerned that sufferers, particularly those with underlying conditions, may stop adhering to their medication regimens.

Almost half of Americans take at least one medicine drug, and 1 in 4 choose three or more pills, according to the CDC.

Remedy nonadherence is an investment in the best of times. Workshops have consistently shown that 20% to 30% of medication prescriptions are never filled, that about 50% of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed, and that lack of adherence costs the healthcare system at least $100 billion each year.

But these are not the best of times. Much of the country is secured down because of the pandemic, and companies are feeling and, as a consequence, leading to leaves and layoffs.

For the week ending March 28, 2020, 6.6 million US workers filed for their first week of stopping benefits, a historic high, according to the Department of Labor. First-time claims for stopping benefits have surged more than 3000% since early March.

Can’t Afford Buying Medications?

The souring financial picture may mean that many sufferers can no longer afford their medicines, particularly those who were already fighting.

“I guess it will depend a lot on how parents can package stopping with money from the CARES Act and other state support,” Evan Vickers, BS Pharm, owner of Bulloch’s Drug Store in Cedar City, Utah, said in an email statement.

Vickers, a Republican, who is also the Utah state senate majority leader, was leading to the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) that President Donald J. Trump approved into law on March 27, 2020.5

“If it gets to the point of deciding between food for families and medicines, then adherence could be an expense. Medicaid will pick up a good deal of the slack, but it takes time to transition from marketing support to Medicaid at the time of a job loss,” Vickers said.

“It’s well known that sensitive living conditions, limited access to health care, lack of financial support, and cost of medicine have all been associated with decreased adherence rates and that poor medication adherence leads to many rehospitalizations and poor results for patients with chronic conditions,” Jason Rose, chief administrative officer at AdhereHealth, stated in an email account.

Disadvantages Of Home Delivery

Adhere Health of Franklin, Tennessee, gives technology solutions for medication adherence. Drugstore games and telehealth, while a good for many, also being difficulties.

Rose pointed out that mail order and retail drug stores use public couriers, such as Federal Express and UPS, for the regular distribution of drugs to sufferers. “Examine how these combinations will be delivered and how sufferers will be able to receive or recover the cases,” he said.

“Public carriers do not schedule the game with the patient and usually leave it at the door or in the mailbox. For sufferers who are still or have close physical limitations, this isn’t a viable option,” Rose replied.

Other disadvantages to traditional home delivery details include the lack of ability to accept cash on delivery, deal with mail theft, or space out copayments, as the patient must have a credit or debit card on file, Rose stated.

A Self-Governing Trend

Meantime, telehealth is not a viable choice for everyone, as many COVID-19 sufferers do not have machines, internet access, or smartphones, he stated. Lack of adherence highlights the services of apothecaries, and also the opportunities for them to help sufferers.

“Apothecaries can play an essential role in adherence by ensuring sufferers have a sufficient supply of their medications as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jennifer Gershman, PharmD, CPh, a drug news apothecary donor who lives in South Florida.

“Many self-governing stores and chains, such as CVS and Walgreens, are trying free medicine delivery, which will help ensure that patients can get their prescriptions without having to come in person to the drugstore. Pharmacists should also check in with patients who have mental health conditions, such as depression, as social distancing could have an impact on them, Gershman said.