Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) SURVEY SHOWS MEDICINE CO-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 28, 2010

Is this benefit design costing the state more money in sick days, low productivity, and costlier medical procedures as a result of untreated conditions?

“A survey of our membership confirms that high co-pays are interfering with the health and well being of our membership,” said Jeff Hubbard, President of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), the professional association that represents more than 43,000 public educators throughout the state including classroom teachers, administrators, coaches, school nurses, counselors, janitors, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers.

Currently the State Health Benefit Plan, which insures a large percentage of GAE’s membership, has a 3rd Tier co-pay of $75-$100 per individual medication. Over half of GAE’s members who responded to the survey pay $75 or more for their medications. Additionally, more than half take three or more medications and almost 20% take six or more medications.

For members who are on multiple medications at a time, the costs are exorbitant. Over half of those who responded often do not purchase their medications due to these high co-pay costs. Nearly 50% feel that they have suffered physically, mentally, or emotionally because they could not afford their high price co-pays. However, 90% of respondents said that they would be more likely to take all of their meds if their 3rd tier co-pays were more reasonable.

“This survey confirms that members are self medicating and prioritizing which medications to take - at times, choosing to not take their medicines at all. This could easily mean higher health care costs down the road resulting from negative outcomes when patients skip doses, stop taking their medicine or never start in the first place,” said Marcus Downs, Director of Government Relations. “The complications for not initiating therapy or for non compliance, can lead to hospitalizations and the need for additional medication and treatment. The indirect costs of missing days of work during an already abbreviated school year can be detrimental as well.”

In an opinion piece to the Atlanta Journal Constitution on November 9, 2009, Peter J. Pitts, president of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest and a former FDA associate commissioner, stated, “Since 2005, Georgia politicians have been conducting a dangerous penny-wise, pound-foolish experiment with its state health program by hiking co-pays for brand-name prescription medications. The results of that policy have been sicker, less productive state employees. These Georgians end up consuming more and costlier health care during the course of their lives, as their neglected conditions worsen. The lesson here is that higher co-pays discourage patients from getting the treatment they need — especially when they reach upwards of $100.”

To encourage and promote healthy lifestyles, our state employees should have affordable access to medicines that their doctors, with knowledge of patient history and potential side effects, choose for them.

“We already have a high demand for qualified teachers and school employees, the state of Georgia must do everything possible to provide a benefits package that promotes a healthy lifestyle?” said President Hubbard, “It’s time to invest in the health, well being and future of our teachers, our students and ultimately our state.”

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