Biomaterial Database

A behind-the-numbers look at rising Rx costs. 1998

R McCarthy

Spending more on drugs saves health care dollars, by heading off complications of chronic disease. That was the conventional wisdom--until spiraling costs convinced cost-conscious employers to take a closer look at the pharmacy budget.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007356	Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services	Insurance providing for payment of services rendered by the pharmacist. Services include the preparation and distribution of medical products.	Drug Benefit Plans,Drug Insurance,Prescription Insurance,Insurance, Pharmaceutic Services,Insurance, Pharmacy Services,Pharmaceutic Services Insurance,Pharmaceutical Services Insurance,Pharmacy Services Insurance,Drug Benefit Plan,Insurance, Drug,Insurance, Prescription,Plan, Drug Benefit,Plans, Drug Benefit
D002908	Chronic Disease	Diseases which have one or more of the following characteristics: they are permanent, leave residual disability, are caused by nonreversible pathological alteration, require special training of the patient for rehabilitation, or may be expected to require a long period of supervision, observation, or care (Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed). For epidemiological studies chronic disease often includes HEART DISEASES; STROKE; CANCER; and diabetes (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 2).	Chronic Condition,Chronic Illness,Chronically Ill,Chronic Conditions,Chronic Diseases,Chronic Illnesses,Condition, Chronic,Disease, Chronic,Illness, Chronic
D003363	Cost Control	The containment, regulation, or restraint of costs. Costs are said to be contained when the value of resources committed to an activity is not considered excessive. This determination is frequently subjective and dependent upon the specific geographic area of the activity being measured. (From Dictionary of Health Services Management, 2d ed)	Cost Containment,Containment, Cost,Containments, Cost,Control, Cost,Controls, Cost,Cost Containments,Cost Controls
D006279	Health Maintenance Organizations	Organized systems for providing comprehensive prepaid health care that have five basic attributes: (1) provide care in a defined geographic area; (2) provide or ensure delivery of an agreed-upon set of basic and supplemental health maintenance and treatment services; (3) provide care to a voluntarily enrolled group of persons; (4) require their enrollees to use the services of designated providers; and (5) receive reimbursement through a predetermined, fixed, periodic prepayment made by the enrollee without regard to the degree of services provided. (From Facts on File Dictionary of Health Care Management, 1988)	Group Health Organizations, Prepaid,HMO,Prepaid Group Health Organizations,Health Maintenance Organization,Organizations, Health Maintenance,Organization, Health Maintenance
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000329	Advertising	Works about the act or practice of calling public attention to a product, service, need, etc., especially by paid announcements in newspapers, magazines, on radio, or on television. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	Advertising as Topic,Advertisement as Topic,Telemarketing,Advertisings
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D016527	Drug Costs	The amount that a health care institution or organization pays for its drugs. It is one component of the final price that is charged to the consumer (FEES, PHARMACEUTICAL or PRESCRIPTION FEES).	Cost, Drug,Costs, Drug,Drug Cost
D017049	Employer Health Costs	That portion of total HEALTH CARE COSTS borne by an individual's or group's employing organization.	Health Costs, Employer,Employer Health Cost,Health Cost, Employer