Published September 09, 2019
Health care spending in the United States is expected to reach $6 trillion by 2027, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. However, UnitedHealth Group has conducted extensive research on the cost of care and has identified four areas where savings are achievable:
This article focuses on specialty Rx.
Since 2013, annual growth in per capita spending on administered specialty drugs has averaged 14%.
Compared to independent physician offices, hospitals charge more for specialty drugs and their administration, whether treatment occurs in a hospital or in a hospital-owned physician practice.
For several common administered specialty drugs, treatment at home can improve patients’ physical and mental well-being and reduce disruption of work schedules and family responsibilities, all without increasing the likelihood of adverse drug events or side effects.
Administering specialty drugs in physician offices and patients’ homes instead of hospital outpatient settings can improve care and reduce costs by $4 billion each year:
Administering specialty drugs in physician offices and patients’ homes instead of hospital outpatient settings offers the following savings opportunities per privately insured patient per year: