Prescription drug costs as a reason for changing physicians.

The authors conducted a telephone survey of 200 patients who had recently transferred their health care to a Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. Of the study patients, 56% considered prescription drug costs to be the main reason or a major contributing reason for transfer (95% confidence interval 49% to 63%). The mean out-of-pocket prescription drug cost for these patients was $139 per month, compared with $47 per month for patients for whom drug costs were a minor reason or not a reason at all (p < 0.001). Drug costs are a principal reason for patients to transfer their health care to the VA.