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Achieving better patient outcomes through medication adherence

Learn about 5 strategies for consistent medication use and how Optum Specialty Pharmacy can help.

August 21, 2025 | 4-minute read

In this article

Consistent and accurate use of prescribed medications is a cornerstone of effective health care management. Despite its importance, nonadherence remains a significant barrier to achieving optimal health outcomes. 

It's estimated that 50% of Americans do not take their chronic, long-term therapy medications as prescribed.1 For chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and asthma, non-adherence can lead to poor disease management and increased morbidity.

Programs like Schedule My Fill help patients maintain a steady medication supply, and that’s made a difference for the people we serve, including this person:

“Being diagnosed with MS has changed my life and I realize I am truly dependent on medication to keep me healthy. The Schedule My Fill program has provided so much relief because I don’t have to worry about filling my prescription anymore. It’s been a weight off my shoulders.”

 

 

Schedule My Fill patients had 100% medication access for all therapies2

Improving medication adherence

Health care providers and pharmacies each play a pivotal role in addressing common adherence barriers like:

  • Patient forgetfulness
  • Underestimating the medication’s importance
  • Side effect issues
  • Financial constraints

Overcoming these barriers requires a comprehensive approach that uses successful adherence strategies to ensure that medications work effectively. This, in turn, helps prevent complications and hospitalizations, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and higher quality of life for patients.

Strategies for medication adherence

1. Support systems to stay on track

With robust tools and programs, including innovative programs like Schedule My Fill, Optum Specialty Pharmacy helps patients stay on track and get ongoing support. Schedule My Fill lets patients arrange their refills for the calendar year, avoiding delays, minimizing hassles and boosting adherence. 

2. Patient education to understand their conditions and treatments

Educating patients about their conditions and the importance of their medications is fundamental. Optum Connections provides virtual visits, video series and a texting program to help patients learn about their condition and treatment — and improve adherence and outcomes.

3. Tailored interventions to enhance satisfaction

Pharmacies that understand their patients' medication adherence patterns can provide more personalized care. This includes routine reminders, tailored advice specific to each patient’s condition and ongoing support to help them overcome adherence barriers. By using a personalized approach, specialty pharmacies can enhance patient satisfaction and encourage consistent medication use.

4. Resolving financial barriers to help patients pay for their medications

Cost is a major factor in medication nonadherence. The higher their out-of-pocket cost, the more likely patients are to abandon their prescriptions. Research shows that 69% of patients stop their medication if their out-of-pocket cost is $250.3 Through our Optum Savings IQ tool, frontline teams can connect patients with available financial resources to help pay for their medications.

5. Improved access to pharmacy information

Apps and patient portals offer people instant access to comprehensive pharmacy information. This allows patients to easily request refills, track orders and check the adjudication of medications, including insurance and financial assistance, when ordering through the portal. Optum Specialty Pharmacy patients also have the option to schedule a secure video consultation with a pharmacist to help them manage their condition.

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People who use the Optum Specialty Pharmacy patient portal are up to 16% more persistent in therapy4

Let Optum Specialty Pharmacy help You

Medication adherence is crucial for achieving optimal health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, ensuring patient safety and fostering strong patient-pharmacist relationships. 

Optum Specialty Pharmacy promotes adherence by:

  • Educating patients
  • Providing support
  • Addressing barriers to consistent medication use

By prioritizing adherence, our team significantly contributes to providers’ care plans and the overall well-being of patients.

We’re here to help patients stay on track

Learn about specialty pharmacy

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  1. DiMatteo MR, Giordani PJ, Lepper HS et al. Patient adherence and medical treatment outcomes: a meta-analysis. Med Care. 2002.
  2. Analysis of proportion of days covered (PDC): Impact of Schedule My Fill on medication adherence and persistence among patients at Optum Specialty Pharmacy, April 1–December 2023. 
  3. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. Biopharmaceuticals in Perspective. Published 2020. Accessed Feb. 15, 2023. 
  4. Optum Specialty Pharmacy. Internal patient portal user analysis. 2024.