Reducing drug co-pays might lower health-care costs for companies, new study finds

If companies want to reduce their health-care costs, they should reduce the co-pays employees are charged for drugs, particularly for chronic diseases such as diabetes, according to a new study.

In a study published online Friday in the policy journal Health Affairs, a team of researchers found that when an Orlando employer cut the co-payments for diabetes medications, the program paid for itself in three years — through fewer hospitalizations and lower disability payments.

The benefit of lower co-payments was evident, however, after the first year, with the use of diabetes medication 3.8 percent higher among those with reduced co-pays. After three years, the gap grew to 6.5 percent, according to the study.