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Changes in Prices and Eye-Care Providers Prescribing Patterns of Glaucoma Medications in the USA between 2013 and 2019.

PRECIS
Brand glaucoma medication prices vastly increased in the US over the past 7 years, despite a reduction in eye-care providers' tendency to prescribe brand medications over generics PURPOSE:: Determine the changes in prices of brand and generic glaucoma medications and to identify changes in eye-care providers prescribing patterns since 2013.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
The National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) database (2013-2019) was used analyze per-unit drug price. Medicare Part D prescriber profile (PUF) was used to identify eye-care providers prescribing patterns between 2013 and 2017.


RESULTS
Brand-name medication prices increased by 59% between 2013 - 2019, while generic medications decreased by 22%. Brand-name drugs were 13 to 162 times more expensive than their generic counterparts. Eye-care Providers prescribed 25% less brand name medications in 2017 compared to 2013.


CONCLUSION
Brand glaucoma medication prices vastly increased in the US over the past 7 years, despite a reduction in eye-care providers' tendency to prescribe brand medications over generics. A change in government policy, allowing Medicare medication prices negotiations, could greatly reduce health expenditure on glaucoma treatment.