A Practical Methodology for Disaggregating the Drivers of Drug Costs Using Administrative Data.

BACKGROUND: Prescription drug expenditures represent a significant component of health care costs in Canada, with estimates of $28.8 billion spent in 2014. Identifying the major cost drivers and the effect they have on prescription drug expenditures allows policy makers and researchers to interpret current cost pressures and anticipate future expenditure levels. OBJECTIVES: To identify the major drivers of prescription drug costs and to develop …