ACP calls for wider prescription of generics

PHILADELPHIA — The American College of Physicians, in a paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, on Tuesday urged clinicians to prescribe generic versions of drugs whenever possible. The group cited the potential of generics to improve adherence and improve outcomes while lowering healthcare costs for patients and payers. 

 

The ACP’s paper examined the impact of generics use on adherence, how often branded drugs are used in favor of generics, finding that among some Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes, brand-name drugs were used when a cheaper alternative was available in 23% to 45% of prescriptions. The Medicare savings that the organization says could be saved by focusing on generics is estimated to total $1.4 billion. 

 

“While the use of generic drugs has increased over time, clinicians often prescribe more expensive brand name drugs when equally effective, well proven and less expensive generic versions are available,” ACP president Dr. Wayne Riley said. “The use of generic drugs is a High Value Care way to improve health, avoid harms and eliminate wasteful practices.”

 

One of the practices the ACP urges is the adoption of electronic medical records that could notify clinicians about the availability of a generic version of a prescribed drug. Additionally, the ACP said that providing physicians with samples of generic drugs — similar to the samples that companies provide of brand-name drugs — might help increase the number of generics prescribed.