In April 1996 Manitoba changed its drug insurance plan from a fixed deductible and copayment system to an income-based deductible system. In comparing prescribing patterns among children covered by the provincial pharmacare plan with those covered by other nonpharmacare insurance policies, the authors found that children with severe asthma who were in the pharmacare group received fewer prescriptions for inhaled corticosteroids that those in the nonpharmacare group. The authors also found that the same was true for children with mild and moderate asthma, especially those from higher-income neighbourhoods.
"This study has demonstrated that altering drug benefits can have unintended consequences on the receipt of prescription drugs for the management of asthma," conclude the authors, and "it is therefore imperative that drug benefit policies not deter patients and their families from using these drugs."
Contact: Dr. Cameron Mustard, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto; tel. 416-927-2027 x2143, email cmustard@iwh.on.ca
Journal
Canadian Medical Association Journal