Accumulator adjustment programs lead to surprise out-of-pocket costs and nonadherence, analysis finds

A new analysis by IQVIA looked at three cost-sharing assistance programs and found that from 2018 to 2020, 25% to 36% of patients discontinued treatment when they faced an unexpectedly high out-of-pocket cost of $1,500 or more in the middle of the plan year. These unexpected costs were caused by accumulator adjustment programs operated by pharmacy benefit managers and health plans.