Staying Healthy, Staying Strong: A Union Guide to Medication Adherence
by RxBenefits
Solidarity means looking out for one another. For your union, it’s about ensuring every member has a safe workplace, a fair wage, and the support they need to thrive. A crucial part of this is health and well-being. When a union brother or sister struggles with their health, it impacts everyone. That’s why medication adherence, or taking your prescriptions exactly as directed, is so important.
Sticking to a medication plan not only keeps your members healthy, it also keeps your job sites productive and your collective healthcare costs manageable. That’s why it’s more than a personal responsibility; it's a shared commitment that strengthens your entire community.
The High Cost of Not Following Doctors’ Orders
Medication adherence means taking the right drug, at the right dose, for the prescribed duration. While it sounds simple, research shows only about half of people with chronic conditions follow their treatment plans. The consequences can be significant, affecting individuals, the workforce, and your hard-won healthcare benefits. For individuals, non-adherence can lead to worsening health problems, more frequent doctor visits, and avoidable hospital stays. For your workforce, this translates into more
sick days, decreased productivity, and a higher risk of accidents. The financial toll is also significant. Medication non-adherence costs the U.S. healthcare system billions of dollars annually. These costs inevitably drive up insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for everyone, threatening the comprehensive, affordable benefits you fight for at the bargaining table.
The Risks of Medication Misuse and Addiction
Medication adherence also means avoiding the dangers of misuse. Misuse occurs when a medication is not taken as prescribed, such as taking more than the recommended dose, using the drug for a non-medical reason, or taking someone else's prescribed medication. This is especially critical with pain medications, where misuse can quickly lead to dependency and addiction, a crisis that has taken a tragic toll on many working families.
Taking medication improperly not only fails to treat the underlying condition but can also cause new, severe health issues, including overdose. Recognizing the signs of misuse and knowing where to turn for confidential help is essential. As a pharmacy benefits partner, RxBenefits is committed to working with your unions and leaders to provide resources that support safe medication use and connect members with the help they need to address substance use disorders.
Making Medications Affordable
The single biggest barrier to medication adherence is cost. No member should ever have to decide between filling a prescription and paying their bills. Working with the right pharmacy benefits partner is critical to keeping costs lower and optimizing the plan for all members. By negotiating for competitive pricing, ensuring you have visibility into plan dynamics, and implementing cost-saving strategies, the right partner will make your plan work as hard as you do. An optimized benefits plan goes beyond copays and deductibles. It outlines options that align to your union's specific needs; it protects you
from hidden fees and ensures rebates go to your organization, not your benefits manager; it replaces costly brand-name drugs with less-expensive, equally effective alternatives; and it provides you and your members with hands-on, superior customer service.
Promoting Education and Workplace Wellness
Knowledge empowers us to take control of our health. Many people don't fully understand their condition or why a specific medication is vital.
Help your members access educational resources and support available through your workplace wellness programs, including:
Simple Tips for Successfully Sticking to Your Treatment Plan
While your union and pharmacy partner, like RxBenefits, work to optimize your benefits plan, here are some practical tips your members can use to manage medications effectively:
Stronger Together, Healthier Together
Union strength is built on solidarity. That means advocating for each other, both on and off the job site. Promoting medication adherence is a powerful way to support your collective well-being.
By working together as partners, unions and RxBenefits can build a future where every member has the resources and support needed to lead a healthy life. This creates a more resilient membership, safer workplaces, and stronger, more sustainable healthcare benefits for generations to come.
Visit https://employers.rxbenefits.com/ula/ for more information on how RxBenefits can support you and your members.