NEW: Senators Put Medication Adherence Front and Center at Q + A

NEW: Senators Put Medication Adherence Front and Center at Q + A

U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse joined a panel discussion and Q&A on medication adherence, urging the public to take the issue seriously as a threat to public health.

The Senators and other esteemed panelists explored the critical nature of medication adherence, both from the standpoint of public health as well as for individual patients. The event brought together leading thinkers and state officials as well as patient advocates, providers and pharmacy experts. 

Participants engaged in robust discussion with the audience and advocated for increased education efforts to raise awareness among patients. Currently, about half of all patients with chronic diseases fail to take their medications on time and as directed. The estimated resulting cost of non-adherence to the U.S. economy is a whopping $100-300 billion annually.

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Reed: Issue is "Critically Important"

“It sounds simple, but helping people take their medications as prescribed is critically important. It improves health outcomes and prevents unnecessary and costly hospitalizations. I have teamed up with the University of Rhode Island’s College of Pharmacy, CVS/Caremark, and RI Script Your Future to host Medication Management and Health Fairs across Rhode Island to try to help seniors stay healthy. I want to ensure that people of all ages have access to quality, affordable health care and that they can afford their prescriptions and use them as directed,” said Senator Reed.

Eric Cote, spokesperson for the forum, was pleased with what he characterized as a robust turnout that witnessed an engaging give-and-take between the presenters and the audience. "The senators had many great comments and provided a lot of information about efforts that they are making on medication adherence at the federal level," said Cote. "It contributed to a good exchange between the presenters and the audience." 

Senator Whitehouse addressed the role technology can play in leading to increased medication adherence. “Making sure patients take the right medication in the right way can improve health outcomes and lower costs in our health care system. Electronic prescribing, the health information exchange, and other advances in technology make it easier for patients and providers to reap these benefits,” said Senator Whitehouse. “Rhode Island has long been a leader in this field, particularly through the work of the Rhode Island Quality Institute, and I am confident we will continue that leadership for years to come.”

“Throughout the country, thousands suffer serious and even sometimes fatal complications as a result of poor medication adherence each year,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League, which coordinates the public education campaign Script Your Future nationally and in six target markets, including Rhode Island, across the country. “Through our Script Your Future program, we are working hard to prevent these unnecessary and tragic deaths by increasing awareness and educating patients. We are honored to work alongside these champions of consumer health, Senators Reed and Whitehouse, here in Rhode Island to ensure that patients with chronic diseases can lead long and healthy lives.”

In addition to Senator Reed and Senator Whitehouse, panelists were on hand from a bevy of different national and local organization focused on improving health care. Included amongst them were Professor Jef Bratberg, PharmD, University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy; Stephen Evangelista, CEO, Arthritis Foundation of New England and Chairman, RI Health Advocacy Forum; Sally Greenberg, Executive Director, National Consumers League and coordinator of the Script Your Future campaign; Dr. Elaine Jones, President, RI Medical Society; Peter Simmons, RPh, Vice President; Product Development, CVS Caremark; and Joel White, Executive Director, Council for Affordable Health Coverage.

To learn more about Prescriptions for a Healthy America: A Partnership for Advancing Medication Adherence, visit their website at adhereforhealth.org. More on Script Your Future can be found at www.scriptyourfuture.org.