Economic grand rounds: experience with mandated use of generic medications for patients covered by the mental health safety net

Psychiatr Serv. 2014 Jul;65(7):850-2. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201400075.

Abstract

Reducing pharmacy costs without increasing adverse outcomes would relieve some pressure on mental health budgets. This column describes the experience of a publicly funded provider network in a Michigan county that mandated generic use of psychotropic medications to address financial challenges. The percentage of brand-name medications and cost per prescription declined with the policy change, resulting in lower total pharmacy expenditures. No increase was noted in prescriptions per patient or psychiatric hospitalizations. Changes were sustained after the initial implementation period. Mandating generic use may be feasible as a tool for constraining pharmacy costs in mental health budgets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Costs*
  • Drug Prescriptions / economics*
  • Drugs, Generic / therapeutic use*
  • Health Expenditures
  • Humans
  • Insurance, Health / economics*
  • Mental Health / economics*
  • Mental Health / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Michigan

Substances

  • Drugs, Generic