High Costs Prevent Access to Lifesaving Opioid Antidote

On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, a study revealed that patients are less likely to obtain naloxone, an essential drug for reversing opioid overdoses, when faced with higher pharmacy costs. Naloxone, commonly known by its brand name Narcan, plays a pivotal role in preventing fatal outcomes from opioid overdoses.

The research showed that about one-third of naloxone prescriptions went unclaimed by privately insured and Medicare patients between November 2020 and March 2021, based on data from a national pharmacy database. A significant increase in unfilled prescriptions was observed on January 1, 2021, coinciding with the reset of deductibles in many private and Medicare insurance plans. This reset required patients to pay higher out-of-pocket costs until they met their new deductible for the year.

Researchers estimated that a $10 increase in the out-of-pocket cost for naloxone led to a 3% decrease in the rate of filled prescriptions. Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School and School of Public Health, emphasized that reducing financial barriers is crucial to combating the opioid crisis. Dr. Chua suggested that lowering the cost of naloxone prescriptions could encourage more patients to obtain this lifesaving drug.

However, the study also identified other obstacles beyond cost that deter patients from obtaining naloxone. Even when naloxone was free, about 8.5% of prescriptions were still not filled. Researchers suspected that stigma surrounding the medication might be a contributing factor.

In response to these challenges, Michigan introduced a new approach last year to improve naloxone accessibility. The state implemented "naloxone vending machines" in community organizations, allowing individuals to obtain the medication for free without a prescription or pharmacy involvement.

Nationally, opioid overdoses result in over 78,000 deaths annually. The findings of this study, published on June 13 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, underscore the importance of minimizing barriers to access naloxone as part of the broader strategy to address the opioid epidemic.