Prescription subsidies were linked with markedly improved continuation of breast cancer hormonal therapy regardless of race/ethnicity in a nationwide cohort study involving more than 25,000 women.

Participants were all Medicare beneficiaries, had breast cancer surgery between 2006 and 2007, and had at least 1 hormonal therapy prescription filled. Investigators looked at the impact of race/ethnicity on 1) going 90 consecutive days with no hormonal therapy prescription claims, and 2) nonadherence. Among the results:

• ~Three-fourths of Hispanics and 70% of blacks received a subsidy, vs 2 in every 10 whites.
• By 2 years, 7 in every 10 black and Hispanic patients were getting their prescriptions filled every 90 days, vs 6 in every 10 whites.
• Regardless of race/ethnicity, patients not receiving subsidies were more likely to discontinue, vs subsidized groups.
• Adherence among subsidized patients was better than in unsubsidized patients regardless of race/ethnicity; however, the difference was smallest in blacks.