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Health Resources Hub / Endocrine Health / Type 2 Diabetes

Amazon Pharmacy’s RxPass Saves Patients Money, Improves Medication Adherence

Study finds Amazon Pharmacy’s $5-per-month prescription program could save money and reduce days spent without medication for patients who participate.

By

Patrick Campbell

 |  Published on February 3, 2025

5 min read

Amazon Pharmacy bottle. | Credit: Amazon Pharmacy

Credit: Amazon Pharmacy

A new study in a major U.S. medical journal suggests Amazon’s pharmacy prescription program, RxPass, saved patients money while simultaneously improving medication adherence.

Results of the study indicate subscribers to Amazon Pharmacy’s RxPass pharmacy program had more refills and fewer days without medication and reduced their monthly cost of medications by nearly 30% compared with those who were not participating in the Amazon program.

“This study suggests RxPass is a promising tool to improve medication management among patients with chronic conditions, especially those who take multiple medications and may have a limited income,” said Vin Gupta, M.D., MPA, chief medical officer at Amazon Pharmacy. “RxPass is a simple option for a significant problem in healthcare. Addressing medication nonadherence can prevent further disease progression and reduce overall costs.”

Prescription drug costs in the U.S. have been a growing issue for decades, placing a significant financial burden on patients, particularly those with chronic conditions requiring long-term medication. According to KFF, nearly 30% of adults report not taking their medications as prescribed due to high costs, which can lead to poorer health outcomes and increased healthcare utilization. Even with insurance, many individuals face high out-of-pocket expenses, especially for brand-name drugs or those not fully covered by their plans.

For many, the pricing of prescription drugs also lacks transparency, with costs varying widely between pharmacies, insurance networks and discount programs. This inconsistency often leaves patients navigating a complex system to find the most affordable option for their medications. As drug prices continue to outpace inflation, the need for more accessible, cost-effective solutions has become increasingly urgent, highlighting the importance of initiatives aimed at reducing prescription drug costs and improving medication adherence.

A $5 monthly subscription for Amazon Prime members, the RxPass program gives subscribers access to more than 50 generic medications, and subscribers can get all their prescribed medications on the RxPass list filled as often as they need for one flat monthly fee. RxPass also works with auto-refill so that subscribers get all their eligible prescriptions automatically for no more than $5 a month. Of note, RxPass is not insurance, but it is touted as being helpful for those without insurance or when insurance doesn’t cover certain medications.

To evaluate the success of the program, Kai Yeung, Ph.D., Pharm.D., senior healthcare research scientist of Amazon Health Services, and a team of experts compared a sample of approximately 5,000 RxPass enrollees and control subjects over six months.

The chief interest of the study team was the number of days’ supply of medications on the subscription program list per person per month. To better understand the value of the program to subscribers, investigators also assessed the number of prescription refills and out-of-pocket costs of medications on the program list, including program subscription costs per person per month.

More than 10,000 individuals were included in the study. After adjusting for differences between groups, the study included 5,003 participants in the program (average age 45.9 years; 41.5% female) and 5,137 individuals in the comparison group (average age 45.8 years; 41.2% female).

The program showed several positive effects:

  • More medication days covered: Participants had an average increase of about 10 extra days of medication supply per person per month, which is a 27% increase over those not in the program.
  • More prescription refills: On average, participants had 0.19 more prescription refills per person per month, reflecting a 29% increase.
  • Lower out-of-pocket costs: Participants saved an average of $2.35 per person per month on medication costs, which is a 30% reduction in out-of-pocket spending.

“Patients face multiple barriers to medication adherence, making it a challenging issue to address across healthcare,” Yeung said. “RxPass tackles patient challenges holistically, simplifying medication management by reducing both the financial and administrative burdens. Subscribers know the cost up front, have medications delivered to their door, and benefit from 24/7 access to a pharmacist. Our early findings indicate a low-cost subscription model can be an effective tool to help patients get and stay on their medications.”

For more on the Amazon Pharmacy RxPass program, click here.