Effect of free medicine distribution on healthcare costs in Canada over 3 years: a secondary analysis of the CLEAN Meds randomized clinical trial

Importance — Few interventions are proven to reduce total healthcare costs, and addressing cost-related nonadherence has the potential to do so.

Objective — To determine the effect of eliminating out-of-pocket medication fees on total healthcare costs.

Design, Setting, and Participants — This secondary analysis of a multicenter randomized clinical trial using a prespecified outcome took place across 9 primary care sites in Ontario, Canada (6 in Toronto and 3 in rural areas), where healthcare services are generally publicly funded. Adult patients (≥18 years old) reporting cost-related nonadherence to medicines in the past 12 months were recruited between June 1, 2016, and April 28, 2017, and followed up until April 28, 2020. Data analysis was completed in 2021.

Interventions — Access to a comprehensive list of 128 medicines commonly prescribed in ambulatory care with no out-of-pocket costs for 3 years vs usual medicine access.

Main Outcome and Measures — Total publicly funded healthcare costs over 3 years, including costs of hospitalizations. Healthcare costs were determined using administrative data from Ontario’s single-payer healthcare system, and all costs are reported in Canadian dollars with adjustments for inflation.

Results — A total of 747 participants from 9 primary care sites were included in the analysis (mean [SD] age, 51 [14] years; 421 [56.4%] female). Free medicine distribution was associated with a lower median total healthcare spending over 3 years of $1641 (95% CI, $454-$2792; P = .006). Mean total spending was $4465 (95% CI, −$944 to $9874) lower over the 3-year period.

Conclusions and Relevance — In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, eliminating out-of-pocket medication expenses for patients with cost-related nonadherence in primary care was associated with lower healthcare spending over 3 years. These findings suggest that eliminating out-of-pocket medication costs for patients could reduce overall costs of healthcare.