The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe healthcare insecurity for millions of Americans, according to CoverMyMeds’ 2020 Medication Access Report. As of early June 2020, more than 44 million people — over a quarter of the U.S. workforce — had filed for first-time unemployment benefits since March 2020. This figure is six times the unemployment claim number experienced at the peak of the Great Recession. Two out of three Americans have made financial or personal sacrifices in order to afford prescription medications. Providers note that about 30% of their patients cannot pay for their drugs.
The report found that 29% admit to abandoning their medications because they cannot afford them. One in 10 patients wait 8 weeks or more to receive their first dose of therapy as a result of prior authorizations or barriers to access associated with specialty pharmaceuticals.
More here. https://www.pharmalive.com/health-outcomes-facts-figures-6/
(Source: Pharmalive.com, Accessed August 7, 2020, original report: https://www.covermymeds.com/main/medication-access-report/)
