Differences in Diabetic Prescription Drug Utilization and Costs Among Patients With Diabetes Enrolled in Colorado Marketplace and Medicaid Plans, 2014-2015
January 2022Increasing prices of antidiabetic medications in the US have raised substantial concerns about the effects of drug affordability on diabetes care. There has been little rigorous evidence comparing the experiences of patients with diabetes across different types of insurance coverage.
This cross-sectional study included diabetic patients enrolled in Colorado Medicaid and Marketplace plans who were aged 19 to 64 years and had incomes between 75% and 200% of the federal poverty level during 2014 and 2015. Data analysis was conducted from September 2020 to April 2021.
In this cross-sectional study of 22 788 diabetic adults with incomes between 75% and 200% of the federal poverty level, drug utilization across multiple drug classes was higher and drug costs were significantly lower for patients enrolled in Medicaid than for patients with subsidized Marketplace plans.
