Groups urge Congress to address adherence in health care reform

With only half of those with chronic conditions adhering to their medications, the health system is spending upwards of $300 billion on unnecessary hospital (re-)admissions, visits to health care practitioners, and costly advanced treatments. Through simple initiatives that promote adherence such as employer- or community-based counseling programs, incentives within the health care system, reminder systems, and broad-based public education, we can potentially save thousands of dollars per patient annually.

Organizations representing consumers, employers, family caregivers, pharmacies,health care practitioners, health plans, researchers, and other stakeholders who recognize the importance of medication adherence to the public’s health, and as a means of controlling costs and engaging Americans to better manage their health have signed onto a letter to the Honorable Henry Waxman asking him to lead the House of Representatives to pass health care reform legislation that promotes adherence through effective prevention and chronic care management.

"We appreciate efforts by the House and Senate to promote quality patient-centered care. Through better prevention, increased coordination and chronic care management, we can help remove some of the systemic barriers to adherence, resulting in a healthier, more productive work force and untold savings to the system.

As the nation’s oldest consumer organization, the National Consumers League has spent generations working to improve the health of consumers. We now look forward to working with the Congress to pass health care reform legislation that promotes adherence through effective prevention and chronic care management."

Read the full letter here.