It is well known that, on average, some 50% of prescriptions are either not filled or, once filled, not completely fulfilled by the patient. In some chronic disease categories, the rate can exceed 50%. In the lipid lowering medications category, for example, The American Journal of Medicine has reported that the Minnesota Heart Study found that lipid lowering medications had a discontinuation rate of approximately 50% at six months and 60% at one year. Compliance programs are aimed at patients to help motivate them to take medications regularly as prescribed and to continue to take the medications over the prescribed course of therapy. There are several reasons why patients do not comply with the drug therapy: distorted expectations of the results, cost, denial and fear of adverse events. Generally, the reasons for non-compliance uncovered to date fall into a just two or three categories. Some are behavioral, some physical and some emotional. Most are applicable to every therapy regimen: o Misread or misunderstand instructions o Misunderstand their disease and/or the need for medication o Forgetfulness – take some pills but not all and not on schedule o Unreasonable or wrong expectations regarding the drug’s benefits o Loss or unintentional destruction of the medication o Feel better and think no more meds are needed o Can’t afford medication o Hard to swallow o Regimen too complicated o Side effects o Worry about becoming resistant to the drug or think the drug isn’t working because they don’t feel different. Alliance has been involved in the design and execution of many successful compliance programs, providing nurse staffed communications services plus database management and fulfillment. Each of these programs was custom designed for the particular needs of the patients. They have ranged from ongoing outbound nurse counseling, to education, to automated reminders to take medication, to providing an inbound 800# information and counseling lines. We can help you design and execute a program that improves the lives of patients, increases patient’s feelings of goodwill towards your company overall, while meeting the ROI needs of the brand.