Table 3.
Potential Cost-Savings, Percent Dollars, with 85% or 100% Recommended Drug Utilization
| Therapeutic/drug category | 85% Recommended filled, % | 100% Recommended filled, % |
|---|---|---|
| Categories with potential for cost-savings | ||
| Antidepressants | 70.5 | 87.2 |
| Statins | 16.5 | 23.0 |
| Proton pump inhibitors | 64.0 | 77.1 |
| Beta-blockers | 5.4 | 12.3 |
| ACE inhibitors | 27.4 | 31.2 |
| Antihistamines | 77.5 | 92.3 |
| Diabetes, oral | 39.6 | 66.9 |
| Insomnia | 64.5 | 79.3 |
| NSAIDs | 58.2 | 84.5 |
| Hormones (estrogenic) | 44.6 | 56.9 |
| Calcium channel blockers | 5.3 | 11.4 |
| ADHD | 50.8 | 62.7 |
| Categories without potential for cost-savings | ||
| Migraine | -1.0 | -3.9 |
| Antipsychotics | -27.2 | -33.6 |
| Overactive bladder | -29.4 | -38.2 |
| Alzheimer's disease | -9.1 | 8.9 |
| Total potential cost-savingsa | 40.8 | 51.7 |
a
Total potential cost-savings was calculated from the sum total cost of all evaluated categories (including those that did not have a potential cost-savings) divided by the sum total of the cost if 85% or 100% of prescriptions were filled with recommended drugs.
ACE indicates angiotensin-converting enzyme; ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.