CVS Caremark Research Identifies Positive Link Between Medication Adherence and Employee Productivity

WOONSOCKET, R.I., July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol impact nearly 70 percent of working-age adults in the U.S. While research has demonstrated the impact of medication adherence on reducing overall health care costs, there has been less evidence available to date on whether adherence improves employee productivity. New research conducted by CVS Caremark and Truven Health Analytics (previously the Healthcare business of Thomson Reuters), and published today in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, found that employees with chronic conditions who were adherent to their prescribed medications had up to seven fewer days away from work annually (including absenteeism and short term disability days) than those who were not adherent. This translated into estimated annual savings of up to nearly $1,700 per adherent employee.

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"These research findings clearly show that employees who receive appropriate medical care and follow their doctor's directions about taking their medication are healthier and more productive," said Troyen Brennan, M.D., MPH, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of CVS Caremark. "These results are one more piece of the puzzle illustrating the impact of medication adherence in improving health outcomes while managing overall health care costs."

The researchers examined data on prescription drug usage, absenteeism and short-term disability for more than 100,000 employees at more than 16 medium to large-sized employers.  Employees included in the study were diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure (CHF), high cholesterol or asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The research found significant differences between adherent and non-adherent employees in the number of short-term disability days taken for all conditions studied, and between adherent and non-adherent employees in the number of absenteeism days for those with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and asthma/COPD.

"This is one of the first studies to be able to quantify the impact of medication adherence on worker absenteeism," said Ginger Carls, PhD, Senior Research Leader, Truven Health Analytics and co-author of the study. "The results provide a clear message that employees with common chronic conditions who take their medications as directed miss fewer days at work, resulting in potential cost savings for employers."

This study is a product of ongoing CVS Caremark-sponsored research that is focused on understanding why many consumers do not take their prescriptions as directed, and developing solutions to assist patients in using their medications effectively.  Annual excess health care costs due to medication non-adherence in the U.S. are estimated to be as much as $300 billion annually.

About CVS Caremark
CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the United States with integrated offerings across the entire spectrum of pharmacy care. We are a pharmacy innovation company, uniquely positioned to engage plan members in behaviors that improve their health and to lower overall health care costs for health plans, plan sponsors and their members. CVS Caremark is a market leader in mail order pharmacy, retail pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, and retail clinics, and is a leading provider of Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans. As one of the country's largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), we provide access to a network of more than 65,000 pharmacies, including more than 7,300 CVS/pharmacy® stores that provide unparalleled service and capabilities. Our clinical offerings include our signature Pharmacy Advisor™ program as well as innovative generic step therapy and genetic benefit management programs that promote more cost effective and healthier behaviors and improve health care outcomes. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the Company's website at http://info.cvscaremark.com.

Media Contact:
Christine Cramer
CVS Caremark
(401)770 3317

SOURCE CVS Caremark