Delayed Care Could Have Long-Term Impact on Patient Health

Many patients had no choice but to delay: As health systems prepared for a potential surge in COVID-19-related cases, and physicians’ offices closed temporarily, we hit pause on non-emergent healthcare across the U.S.

In a survey conducted by CoverMyMeds in May of this year, 42 percent of respondents said they had to cancel or reschedule an in-person visit with their healthcare team due to COVID-19.^[2]CoverMyMeds COVID-19 Patient Survey

The dramatic decrease in patient visits this spring led to a financial crisis for health systems and providers: For the period of March through June, the American Hospital Association estimated $202.6 billion in losses for U.S. hospitals and health systems — an average of $50.7 billion per month.^[3]Hospitals and Health Systems Face Unprecedented Financial Pressures Due to COVID-19, American Hospital Association, 2020, Last month, they updated that estimate to include an additional minimum of $120.5 billion in losses from July to December 2020, or $20.1 billion per month.^[4]New AHA Report Finds Losses Deepen for Hospitals and Health Systems Due to COVID-19, American Hospital Association, 2020

Yet, while the financial impact on the industry has been massive, the long-term impact may be even more significant for patients. Delaying care now could result in serious health consequences in the future.

As Americans consider returning to their providers’ offices in the coming months, it’s the responsibility of all stakeholders in a patient’s journey to help diminish the medication access barriers facing patients.

From transparency to affordability, healthcare IT solutions offer strategies to help patients in these unprecedented times. Innovation is likely to be a welcomed byproduct of COVID-19 — and will benefit the overall patient experience.

Fear and affordability are factors in patients delaying care

Months after the first COVID-19 case appeared in the U.S., healthcare has started to find a new normal. Telehealth adoption is high, and new measures are in place to ensure patient and staff safety. As regular office visits have returned to operation, health systems across the U.S. have encouraged their patients to resume care. (McKesson, with 10 other healthcare organizations, recently launched the Stop Medical Distancing campaign.)

But many patients, concerned for their wellbeing amid a pandemic — or now un- or underinsured due to a COVID-19-related job loss^[5]9.2 Million workers likely lost their employer-provided health insurance in the past four weeks, Economic Policy Institute, 2020 — are continuing to delay care. Some patients may even ignore potentially serious signs of illness, like the early symptoms of a heart attack or stroke.^[6]The Untold Toll — The Pandemic’s Effects on Patients without COVID-19, The New England Journal of Medicine, 2020

In May, Vanderbilt University Medical Center released the results of a survey of more than 1,300 patients. They discovered patients’ most common concern is a fear of contracting COVID-19 from another patient. As stay-at-home orders relaxed, 66 percent of survey respondents said they plan to resume “normal” care within a month, while 93 percent said they’d seek care for serious conditions within a month. When asked about elective screenings, however, the figure dropped to 37 percent.^[7]Patient survey reveals COVID-19 concerns and guides communication efforts, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2020

In our survey, 89 percent of respondents reported at least some financial impact from COVID-19, making access to care they can afford more difficult than before.^[8]CoverMyMeds COVID-19 Patient Survey, 2020 COVID-19 has impacted patients’ access to their prescription medications: 34 percent of survey respondents said they’ve had trouble affording their medications — or have skipped picking up a prescription altogether due to cost.^[8]CoverMyMeds COVID-19 Patient Survey, 2020 Twenty-seven percent reported they simply don’t feel safe making a trip to the pharmacy.^[8]CoverMyMeds COVID-19 Patient Survey, 2020

These trends may have far-reaching consequences for patients’ health: A Kaiser Family Foundation poll conducted in May found that 48 percent of Americans said that they or a family member delayed medical care due to COVID-19 — with 11 percent reporting a condition worsening as a result of this delay.^[9]KFF Health Tracking Poll – May 2020

Of those survey respondents who reported cancelling or delaying in-person care, 55 percent identified themselves as cancer patients.^[8]CoverMyMeds COVID-19 Patient Survey, 2020

Norman Sharpless, director of the National Cancer Institute, said in an editorial this month that cancers undiagnosed now will come to light at a later stage and with worse prognosis. He predicts the number of deaths from breast and colorectal cancer in the U.S. will increase by nearly 10,000 over the next decade due to missed diagnosis.^[10]COVID-19 and cancer, Science magazine, 2020

Telehealth is a critical part of the solution

Over the last few months, telehealth has been an essential alternative for providers and patients, with use of virtual visits increasing by at least 50 percent in March alone.^[11]Telehealth visits are booming as doctors and patients embrace distancing amid the coronavirus crisis, CNBC, 2020 Since the beginning of the pandemic, 44 percent of patients surveyed said their doctor has replaced in-person visits with telehealth services, while 42 percent responded that they had a telehealth appointment scheduled due to COVID-19.^[8]CoverMyMeds COVID-19 Patient Survey, 2020

While telehealth does allow much of the patient journey — from consultation to prescribing — to take place without the patient ever leaving home, a lack of crucial conversations that happen in a more connected setting could leave a patient with unanswered questions on medication cost and convenience. Technology, including prescription decision support tools can help provide seamless, transparent communication. Real-time benefit check (RTBC) technologies, can facilitate a discussion between provider and patient about their prescription options.

With an integrated RTBC tool, providers can view and evaluate patient-specific benefit and cash price options for prescriptions, as well as pharmacy-specific information, like home delivery and mail-order options.

Having more information up-front can help a patient make the best decision for their current circumstance and support long term adherence to therapy: In a case study conducted by CoverMyMeds, patients whose providers used an RTBC solution reported a 19 percent increase in adherence compared to those who did not.^[12]Improving Prescription Decision Support with RxBenefit Clarity, CoverMyMeds, 2019

Solutions that prioritize patient choice enable shared decision making between the patient and provider including medication selection and method of payment, so that they can continue living healthy lives — pandemic or not.

What's next?

We asked patients which COVID-19-related healthcare adaptations they’d like to see continue in the future. Here’s what they said^[8]CoverMyMeds COVID-19 Patient Survey, 2020:

• 54 percent: Fewer in-person visits with my provider
• 40 percent: Fewer in-person visits to my pharmacy
• 63 percent: Longer prescription fills (90-day vs. 30-day fills)

Many retail pharmacies have launched prescription home delivery, or waived fees for existing services to better serve patients staying at home. Of patients surveyed, 43 percent showed interest in permanently switching to a pharmacy home-delivery option for their prescription medications.^[8]CoverMyMeds COVID-19 Patient Survey, 2020

To afford medications during the pandemic, 77 percent of patients reported using a cash price program, copay card or manufacturer patient assistance program. Eighty-four percent said they’ll continue to seek out and use cost-saving methods moving forward.^[8]CoverMyMeds COVID-19 Patient Survey, 2020

The pandemic is likely to last at least another year^[13]COVID-19: The CIDRAP Viewpoint, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, 2020, and patients can’t afford to continue to put their health on hold. More than ever before, patients need to be able to access — and afford — the care and medications they need.

Learn more about technology's impact on patient access.