Deborah Yoong1, Ahmed M Bayoumi2, Linda Robinson2, Beth Rachlis2, Tony Antoniou2. 1. Department of Pharmacy (Yoong), St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ont.; Centre for Urban Health Solutions (Bayoumi), Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Medicine (Bayoumi), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Pharmacy (Robinson), Windsor Regional Hospital, Windsor, Ont.; Ontario HIV Treatment Network (Rachlis), Toronto, Ont.; Department of Family and Community Medicine (Antoniou), St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (Antoniou), St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ont. yoongd@smh.ca. 2. Department of Pharmacy (Yoong), St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ont.; Centre for Urban Health Solutions (Bayoumi), Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Medicine (Bayoumi), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Pharmacy (Robinson), Windsor Regional Hospital, Windsor, Ont.; Ontario HIV Treatment Network (Rachlis), Toronto, Ont.; Department of Family and Community Medicine (Antoniou), St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute (Antoniou), St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ont.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antiretrovirals are expensive and people living with HIV may experience a range of financial burdens when accessing these medications. Our aim was to describe the policy of all Canadian public drug insurance programs for antiretroviral drugs and illustrated how these policies might affect patients' annual out-of-pocket expenditures. METHODS: In December 2017, we reviewed public drug programs offering antiretroviral coverage in Canada using government websites to summarize eligibility criteria. We estimated the annual out-of-pocket costs incurred by people living with HIV by applying the cost-sharing rules to 2 hypothetical cases, a single man and a married woman with a net household income of $39 000 and $80 000, respectively, receiving identical prescriptions in different jurisdictions. RESULTS: We observed substantial variation in the subsidy provided based mainly on geography, income and age. All 5 federal programs and 6 of 13 provincial and territorial jurisdictions offered universal coverage. In the remaining regions, patients spend up to several thousand dollars annually depending on income (Manitoba), age and income (Ontario, Saskatchewan) and age, income and drug costs (Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador). We found the greatest variation for our higher income case, with out-of-pocket expenses ranging from 0 to over 50% of the antiretroviral cost. INTERPRETATION: There is considerable inter- and intra-jurisdiction heterogeneity in the cost-sharing policies for antiretrovirals across Canada's public drug programs. Policy reforms that either eliminate or set national standards for copayments, deductibles or premiums would minimize variation and could reduce the risk of cost-associated non-adherence to HIV therapy. Copyright 2018, Joule Inc. or its licensors.
BACKGROUND: Antiretrovirals are expensive and people living with HIV may experience a range of financial burdens when accessing these medications. Our aim was to describe the policy of all Canadian public drug insurance programs for antiretroviral drugs and illustrated how these policies might affect patients' annual out-of-pocket expenditures. METHODS: In December 2017, we reviewed public drug programs offering antiretroviral coverage in Canada using government websites to summarize eligibility criteria. We estimated the annual out-of-pocket costs incurred by people living with HIV by applying the cost-sharing rules to 2 hypothetical cases, a single man and a married woman with a net household income of $39 000 and $80 000, respectively, receiving identical prescriptions in different jurisdictions. RESULTS: We observed substantial variation in the subsidy provided based mainly on geography, income and age. All 5 federal programs and 6 of 13 provincial and territorial jurisdictions offered universal coverage. In the remaining regions, patients spend up to several thousand dollars annually depending on income (Manitoba), age and income (Ontario, Saskatchewan) and age, income and drug costs (Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador). We found the greatest variation for our higher income case, with out-of-pocket expenses ranging from 0 to over 50% of the antiretroviral cost. INTERPRETATION: There is considerable inter- and intra-jurisdiction heterogeneity in the cost-sharing policies for antiretrovirals across Canada's public drug programs. Policy reforms that either eliminate or set national standards for copayments, deductibles or premiums would minimize variation and could reduce the risk of cost-associated non-adherence to HIV therapy. Copyright 2018, Joule Inc. or its licensors.
Authors: Carmen H Logie; Nina Sokolovic; Mina Kazemi; Shaz Islam; Peggy Frank; Rebecca Gormley; Angela Kaida; Alexandra de Pokomandy; Mona Loutfy Journal: J Int AIDS Soc Date: 2022-07 Impact factor: 6.707
Authors: James Wilton; Juan Liu; Ashleigh Sullivan; Beth Rachlis; Alex Marchand-Austin; Madison Giles; Lucia Light; Claudia Rank; Ann N Burchell; Sandra Gardner; Doug Sider; Mark Gilbert; Abigail E Kroch Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-01-04 Impact factor: 3.240