Utilization of prescription medications and ancillary pharmacy services among rural elders in west Texas: Distance barriers and implications for telepharmacy

Brian Collins, Tyrone F. Borders, Kristen Tebrink, Tom Xu Ke

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examine the relationship between distance and access to prescription medications and ancillary pharmacy services among rural elders in west Texas. Further understanding this relationship is important because programs such as telepharmacy are largely justified on the basis of reducing distance barriers. We use data from the Texas Tech 5000 survey to evaluate the relationship between distance and access. In addition, we examine whether regulations that prohibit competition between independent pharmacies and telepharmacies create a distance barrier to prescription medication. Our findings suggest that distance is a barrier to access, but telepharmacy regulations in Texas do not exacerbate the impact of distance.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)75-97
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of Health and Human Services Administration
Volume30
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Leadership and Management
  • Health Policy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management

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