COMPLIANCE COSTS

Patients who skip filling an antibiotic prescription after hospital discharge because of high out-of-pocket costs are at increased risk of rehospitalization and cost the healthcare system substantially more in the long term, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Managed Care.

Maigaret K. Pasquale, PhD, principal researcher, Comprehensive Health Insights, Louisville, Ky., and colleagues conducted a retrospective analysis of all Medicare members from Humana's SAS database who had a prescription claim for oral linezolid after an inpatient stay for skin and soft tissue infection or pneumonia from June 1, 2007, through April 30, 2011. Members were identified as filling the prescription or as a reversal (not filling the prescription within 3 days of discharge).

Members who were classified as claim reversals were compared with members who filled their prescriptions, in terms of copays or coinsurance, out-of-pocket costs, infection-related and all-cause rehospitalization, and healthcare costs in the 30 days after hospital discharge.

The linezolid criterion

"Linezolid, available in both oral and intravenous forms, has received high marks for its ability to treat difficult infections, including ventilator-acquired pneumonia and skin and soft-tissue infections," a press statement said. "Controlling these infections is a challenge hospitals face in keeping down medical costs, and linezolid is a preferred option because it can be given intravenously while the patient is hospitalized, and then in a pill upon disdhaige. …