BACKGROUND: Patient assistance programs (PAPs) or obtaining 340B drug pricing offers a means of providing medications at low cost. The purpose of this study was to determine whether primary care patients who receive insulin from PAPs have an improved change in A1C, compared to 340B patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of primary care patients who obtained insulin therapy through a PAP or 340B between June 1, 2012, and June 1, 2013. RESULTS: The baseline and change in A1C for PAP patients was similar to 340B patients (10.3% vs. 9.3%) (-0.52 ±2.67 vs. -0.3 ±2.32, p=.66). Baseline and changes in SCr (1.0 vs. 0.99) (0.08 ±0.26 vs. 0.08 ±0.40, p=.93) and BMI (34.0 vs. 33.9) (0.15 ±2.29 vs. 0.10 ±2.16, p=.89) were also similar. PDC values averaged 0.74 in PAP patients, and 0.72 in 340B patients (p=.93). CONCLUSION: This study may serve as a platform for future research.
BACKGROUND:Patient assistance programs (PAPs) or obtaining 340B drug pricing offers a means of providing medications at low cost. The purpose of this study was to determine whether primary care patients who receive insulin from PAPs have an improved change in A1C, compared to 340B patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of primary care patients who obtained insulin therapy through a PAP or 340B between June 1, 2012, and June 1, 2013. RESULTS: The baseline and change in A1C for PAP patients was similar to 340B patients (10.3% vs. 9.3%) (-0.52 ±2.67 vs. -0.3 ±2.32, p=.66). Baseline and changes in SCr (1.0 vs. 0.99) (0.08 ±0.26 vs. 0.08 ±0.40, p=.93) and BMI (34.0 vs. 33.9) (0.15 ±2.29 vs. 0.10 ±2.16, p=.89) were also similar. PDC values averaged 0.74 in PAP patients, and 0.72 in 340B patients (p=.93). CONCLUSION: This study may serve as a platform for future research.