Introduction of therapeutic reference pricing in Slovenia and its economic consequences

Nika Marđetko and Mitja Kos ()
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Nika Marđetko: University of Ljubljana
Mitja Kos: University of Ljubljana

The European Journal of Health Economics, 2018, vol. 19, issue 4, No 8, 584 pages

Abstract: Abstract Objectives To evaluate the economic outcomes that arose from the introduction of therapeutic reference pricing (TRP) into Slovenian practice in 2013, based on the first three therapeutic classes, namely proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), and lipid-lowering agents (LLAs). Methods National health claims data on prescription medicines from January 2011 to December 2015 were analyzed. Monthly medicine expenditure, medicine consumption, changes in medicine use, and market competition (Herfindahl–Hirschman index) were determined to assess the TRP impact on market dynamics. Interrupted time series analysis was used to assess the TRP cost-saving potential. Results Medicine expenditure in all three therapeutic classes was decreasing prior to TRP; however, with the TRP introduction, the cost for ACEIs and LLAs fell 25 and 45%, respectively. The costs for PPIs decreased by 10%, but the cost reductions before TRP were greater. After TRP introduction, the downward trend for monthly medicine expenditure was less steep; coefficient changes from −20,798 to −363 for PPIs (p

Keywords: Therapeutic reference pricing; Economic outcomes; Cost-containment; Interrupted time series; Slovenia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I11 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1007/s10198-017-0903-9

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