Over 98% Of Buprenorphine Prescriptions Are Filled

About 99% of buprenorphine prescriptions sent to pharmacies in 2022 were picked up within 14 days. The other 1% were abandoned. The abandonment rate increased minimally, just 0.1 percentage point, for each $10 increase to the consumer’s cost sharing requirement.

The analysis was based on 3.5 million pharmacy claims for buprenorphine prescriptions issued to Medicare beneficiaries and people with commercial insurance.

Of 1.2 million Medicare claims for buprenorphine, 1.2% were abandoned. Cost sharing per 30-day supply averaged $8.40. A $10 increase to cost sharing was associated with a 0.09 percentage point increase . . .