Change in default prescription length and statin prescribing behavior

This quality improvement study examines the association of changing the default supply for statin prescriptions to 90 days with clinician prescribing behavior.

Statins are cost-effective, evidence-based medications that reduce the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, yet many patients are not adherent. Having medication available is a necessary precondition for adherence, and longer prescription durations facilitate adherence by reducing the frequency with which patients must act to obtain medications. However, many patients are not prescribed 90-day supplies of statins. Higher rates of medication possession for statins are associated with lower all-cause mortality, highlighting the potential clinical benefits of longer prescription duration. In this study, we sought to examine the association of changing the default supply for statin prescriptions to 90 days with clinician prescribing behavior.

University of Pennsylvania Health System (Penn Medicine Nudge Unit)
University of Pennsylvania (philanthropic gift donation by Adam Berns)

Mili Mehta, Alexander C Fanaroff, Corinne M Rhodes, Aria Xiong, Christopher K Snider, E Madeline Grenader, Michael O Harhay, Nune Mehrabyan, Maryanne K Peifer, Kevin G M Volpp, M Kit Delgado