Patients Spending Less on Physicians, Prescriptions

Fewer patients are visiting their physicians, and that those who do are cutting what they spend on prescriptions, according to an American Medical News report.

Patients are visiting their physicians less as they struggle with higher co-pays, deductibles and general economic problems, according to data released this month by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics. Visits to physician offices decreased by 4.7 percent last year and 4.2 percent in 2010, according to IMS.

According to the report, "Doctors may be able to steer patients to lower-cost resources by writing prescriptions for drugs that can be filled for $4 at some big-box pharmacies. Physicians also can guide patients to various drug assistance programs or discount programs run by certain groups."

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