Table 1 Selection of the study sample
From: Difference in drug cost between private and public drug plans in Quebec, Canada
Private drug plan | PDP | |
|---|---|---|
Filled prescriptions recorded in reMed between 1 January 2015 and 23 May 2019 | 3 188 963 prescriptions 38 064 patients | 1 816 751 prescriptions 10 029 patients |
Excluding filled prescriptions with drug cost or quantity equal to zero and invalid DIN or drug insurance number | 2 629 317 prescriptions 33 441 patients | 1 694 527 prescriptions 9 495 patients |
Excluding prescriptions filled by patient 65 years old or more at the date of the last filled prescription | 2 335 846 prescriptions 32 270 patients | 558 273 prescriptions 6 244 patients |
Excluding filled prescriptions inconsistency between cost and quantity dispensed | 2 335 643 prescriptions 32 093 patients | 557 675 prescriptions 6 187 patients |
Strata of prescriptions based on DIN, quantity dispensed, number of days supplied, pharmacy identifier and RAMQ’s List of Medications | 2 335 643 prescriptions 1 636 401 strata 32 093 patients | 557 675 prescriptions 330 827 strata 6 187 patients |
Matching strata of prescriptions filled by privately insured patients to strata of prescriptions filled by patients insured by the PDP (12 570 different patients in total) | 100 809 prescriptions 38 896 strata 10 287patients | 61 210 prescriptions 38 896 strata 3 599 patients |