DYNAMICS OF PUBLIC OUTPATIENT DRUG EXPENDITURES IN AUSTRIA, 2005-2015
Author(s)
Hinteregger M
Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions (HVB), Vienna, Austria
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the main causes of the dynamics of outpatient drug expenditures in Austria on an aggregate view (ATC level 1) over the last 10 years and to identify the key factors for the current developments at a more detailed, therapeutic level. METHODS: The data comprise the filled prescriptions at the expense of all statutory health insurance funds in Austria, covering more than 97% of the national population. Observation period is from 2005 to 2014, with a preview of 2015. Year-on-year changes are calculated at different ATC levels. Costs are in euros excluding VAT. RESULTS: Pharmaceutical expenditures increased significantly from 2005 until 2008, while from 2009 to 2013 there were only moderate increases. In 2014, expenditures started to rise considerably again, the ATC groups J (antiinfectives), L (antineoplastics and immunomodulators), and B (blood and blood forming organs) practically being the sole causes. One steady development over the last 10 years is the constant cost increase in the group L. Group N (nervous system) was the second cost driver until 2011, but faded afterwards. Beginning with 2012, group B is one of the major cost drivers. There are recently no significant cost declines through losses of exclusivity, except for the year 2013. Looking more into detail, one can observe that the current rise is strongly dominated by the new hepatitis c drugs (part of group J), followed by direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs, part of group B). CONCLUSIONS: The new hepatitis c drugs are the main cause for the current increases in public outpatient pharmaceutical expenditures in Austria. As there are no remarkable compensating savings via generic entries, the cost rise poses a severe challenge for the public health insurance system, especially amid continuing weak economic growth and therefore stressed health budgets.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2015-11, ISPOR Europe 2015, Milan, Italy
Value in Health, Vol. 18, No. 7 (November 2015)
Code
PHP58
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Service Delivery & Process of Care
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies, Prescribing Behavior
Disease
Multiple Diseases