Pill-tracking App helps you get the best deals on drugs too
Medisafe, the Israeli tech startup that moved to Boston over the winter, launched an app in 2013, which currently helps some 2 million users stay on top of their meds. If you missed a dose, your loved one will get an alert to remind you. Still, forgetfulness may not be the only reason why patients skip pills, the app makers have realized.
So, the app maker now included a feature that addresses a major stumbling block for some patients – the cost of the drugs. Today, Medisafe announced a new partnership with GoodRx, a startup that created a mobile app and Web site, which allows users to find the lowest prices on prescription drugs at about 60,000 pharmacies nation-wide.
The latest feature on the Medisafe app allows its users to find the cheapest prices for drugs they take regularly without downloading yet another app or doing online searches. Several studies, old and new, indicate that an increased cost of drugs leads to a decreased use of prescribed medicines. For instance, a retrospective study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found that patients with chronic conditions like diabetes decreased their use of medication by up to 23 percent when their copayments doubled.
Complications from not adhering to medication regimens put a $290 billion strain on the US health care system, and rising consumer drug costs are a growing factor, according to Jon Michaeli, executive vice president for marketing and business development for Medisafe. “By integrating GoodRx into the Medisafe platform, our 2 million users automatically receive the best available coupons for all of their medications and their geographical location,” Michaeli said. “With this new feature, users can avoid taking chances with their health, such as skipping doses or substituting medications, due to financial constraints.”
Earlier this year, Medisafe allowed users to log biometrics such as glucose levels or blood pressure to see how taking their medications as prescribed influences their health. Last month, Medisafe entered a partnership with Human API, a health data platform that would allow users to import relevant snippets of their clinical history. The new functionality, they said, would help patients get a better sense of how sticking to their treatment plan has consequences on their well being, thus empowering them to make lasting behavior changes.The app is available worldwide on Google Play and the Apple App Store, for both Android and iPhone users.
Currently, Medisafe has five employees in the Boston office, out of a companywide total of 25.
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