The Price of Health: Out-of-Pocket Expenses and Their Effect on Treatment Adherence and Discontinuation in Psoriatic Disease
Grantee: Alyssa Roberts, B.S.
Institution: The Regents of the University of California, Los Angeles
Grant Mechanism: Psoriatic Disease Research Fellowship
Funding Amount: $32,000
Project Start Date: July 1, 2024
Project End Date: June 30, 2025
Status: Active
Keywords: Psoriasis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Biologics, Epidemiology
Project Summary:
Among patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, many must pay out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for their medications. Understanding how these OOP costs impact patients’ use of treatments in the real world is critical to inform the health care community and health policymakers. In this study, we will first determine OOP costs for psoriatic disease treatments among U.S. adults, using commercial and Medicare insurance databases. Second, we will assess how OOP costs impact if patients take their medication as prescribed (adherence) and if they stop their medication prior to being advised to (discontinuation). This research will contribute directly and substantially to NPF’s efforts to reduce barriers to care for those with psoriatic disease.
How will your project help improve the lives of the 125 million affected by psoriatic disease?
Our study aims to determine out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for psoriatic disease treatments and to assess their impact among U.S. adults by analyzing data from commercial and Medicare databases. This research is crucial to future health policy efforts aimed at improving access to necessary treatments. Importantly, this research will contribute substantially to NPF’s ongoing advocacy efforts to reduce OOP costs and to NPF’s mission of improving the lives of those with psoriatic disease.
Why is psoriatic disease research important to you, personally? What role will this award play in your research efforts or career development?
Raised in a community in Hawaii with limited resources, I have seen firsthand the struggles that many psoriatic disease patients face in accessing care and medications. This formative experience has fueled my aspiration to become a physician-scientist. I am driven by a dual mission: to deliver high-quality care to my community and to conduct health services research that can improve access to care. I am immensely grateful for NPF’s support, which will be pivotal to achieving my career goals.
Researcher Profile:
Alyssa Roberts is a research fellow working under the mentorship of Dr. April Armstrong at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She is a medical student at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and is dedicating a year to full-time research between her third and fourth years of medical school. Alyssa is an aspiring dermatologist and researcher who hopes to contribute to the field of psoriasis. She is particularly interested in caring for underserved populations and conducting health services research that focuses on improving access to care. Alyssa hopes to one day share her passion for research with future trainees, carrying on the research of psoriatic disease for generations to come.