How Home Health Tech Can Solve a Stubborn $290B Healthcare Challenge
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
The good news on the medical front is that with advances in therapy, people with chronic diseases are able to remain in their homes and even live active lifestyles, which improves their quality of life and can save them, the government (Medicaid/Medicaid), and the insurance industry money. But — and it’s a big one — those savings can only be achieved if those patients adhere to their medication schedules.
Non-adherence first came to the forefront of awareness back in 2009, when the New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI) issued a report that found that failing to take medications as prescribed leads to poorer health, more frequent hospitalization, and a higher risk of death. It also costs $290 billion annually in increased medical costs.
While that report raised alarms, we haven’t made much progress in solving the challenge. According to the AMA, studies conducted in 2018 showed that “most patients only take their medicine as prescribed about half the time and are often reluctant to tell their doctor, while a quarter of new prescriptions are never filled.”
There are plenty of digital apps on the market that reminds people to take their medications (even Apple has released one), which are useful for patients who are willing to adhere to their doctor’s orders but have trouble remembering to do so. They’re a small minority, however. When the AMA surveyed patients as to their hesitancy, forgetfulness didn’t even make this list. Fear, cost, misunderstandings, and worry, however, did.
If we can create a home-based health-tech solution that addresses these concerns, perhaps we can finally make a dent in non-adherence.