A recent study found physicians can play a significant role in helping patients find affordable care through conversations about out-of-pocket costs, according to npr.
Health Affairs published a study in which researchers analyzed 2,000 physician-patient conversations about breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and depression treatment. They examined instances where patients indicated care's cost may be too high and then assessed how a physician responded.
Here are six thoughts:
1. Researchers found many physicians either didn't acknowledge financial concerns or only partially addressed them.
2. If the cost of treatment is not addressed, patients may entirely forgo the medication or take it irregularly.
3. Researchers did not analyze how often physicians dismissed patient concerns because researchers did not measure how often those dismissals resulted in people forgoing their medications.
4. A different analysis found physicians talked to patients about medical costs 30 percent of the time. Of those conversations, a small number included the physician and patient strategizing ways to make the medication more affordable.
5. Many physicians do not address treatment costs because they aren't accustomed to such conversations and many view the conversations as inappropriate.
6. As healthcare trends toward patient-centric care, physicians may have to become more involved in the conversation surrounding the cost of treatment.
More articles on practice management:
Danville Orthopedic Clinic changes name: 3 points
Alcohol abuse prevalent among medical students: 3 insights
St. Luke's Interventional Pain Management names Dr. Kathryn Thompson medical director: 4 key notes