January/February 2013

Integrated, coordinated care and access to the electronic medical record provide many unique opportunities to enhance overall care and decrease costs associated with hepatitis C therapy.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is of interest because it is one of the most costly neurological diseases and the introduction of the first oral treatments in 2010 amplified high treatment costs of MS even further.

This study illustrates the healthcare utilization patterns, direct costs, and sustained virologic response rates associated with interferon-based therapies for hepatitis C patients.

Researchers found that patients who used specialty pharmacy had significantly higher adherence to hepatitis C drug regimens than patients who used retail pharmacy.

As we continue to chase the holy grail of medication adherence, we need to be mindful of reality.

Usability criteria will help investigators structure CER to answer the questions that are most important to patients, their family caregivers, healthcare providers, and policy makers.