3 Key Takeaways from the 2025 Medication Access Report

Our 2025 Medication Access Report explores the evolving healthcare landscape, highlighting how insights can help break down barriers and transform fragmented technology into integrated solutions.

Through patient stories, data is brought to life to uncover common challenges many patients encounter when trying to access the medicine they need. This year’s report also provides a framework for healthcare leaders — pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and payer organizations — to reimagine what’s possible when we put patients at the center of every decision.

Here are three key takeaways from the 2025 Medication Access Report.

1. Dimensionalization Can Refocus Patient Care

A striking 65% of patients surveyed by CoverMyMeds reported experiencing some form of delay in accessing their medication.^[1]CoverMyMeds Patient Survey 2023. This statistic underscores the need for a more holistic approach to patient care, starting with how the patient journey is viewed.

The 2025 Medication Access Report invites leaders across healthcare — pharmaceutical companies, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and payer organizations — to rethink the traditional linear model of the patient journey, which often results in fragmented solutions that don't meet the complex needs of today's patients. Instead, the patient journey should be viewed through a new lens: dimensionalization.

The concept of "dimensionalization" embodies the spirit of patient-centered care by capturing the multidimensional nature of patient experiences. This helps provide a strategic framework to navigate the most common medication access barriers by taking into account the full spectrum of a patient’s experience — including social determinants of health, medical conditions, and interactions with different healthcare stakeholders.

To help drive change, the 2025 Medication Access Report outlines core strategies for healthcare organizations, including: prioritizing data alignment and sharing, supporting cross-functional collaboration, and complementing technology with human guidance. Click here to request the full report.

2. Improving Drug Affordability Requires a Dynamic Approach

Just as the patient journey has become more dynamic, so has drug pricing. This complexity can be attributed to several factors, including the rise in specialty therapies, which now make up 56% of total drug spend despite representing only 2% of prescription volume.^[2]Josh Nelson, Megan Preiner, Joan Thompson, and Ben Stern. “Navigating the Complexities of the Specialty Drug Market.” THL, 17 May 2024.

As a result of the rising costs and increasing complexity of accessing medication, patients are more likely to make sacrifices. In fact, 28% of patients shared that they modified their prescription because they couldn’t afford their medication, while 24% left the pharmacy when they found out their prescription cost more than expected.^[1]CoverMyMeds Patient Survey 2023.

To address affordability challenges with a patient-centric focus, we must take a more dynamic approach, balancing technological innovation with human insight. Access and affordability efforts should address not only financial barriers but also consider the broader spectrum of challenges patients face, from navigating insurance complexities to managing chronic health conditions.

While technological advancements continue to streamline processes in healthcare, the 2025 Medication Access Report highlights the critical balance between digital solutions and human intervention. This is particularly evident in the realm of patient support programs (PSPs), yet awareness of these programs continues to be a challenge.

3. Patient Support Program Awareness Remains a Key Challenge

Despite pharmaceutical companies allocating approximately $5 billion annually toward PSPs, only 3% of patients are utilizing these programs.^[3]Sohn, Adam, et al. “Making Patient Support EESI (EASY) Enhance, Empower, Simplify, Improve.” IQVIA, 12 July 2023. This points to a disconnect between the availability of support and patients' awareness or ability to access it.

In these all-too-common situations, Field Reimbursement Managers (FRMs) can play a crucial role in bridging the gap between digital solutions and real-world applications. Their expertise in navigating complex reimbursement landscapes and ability to provide personalized support complement the efficiency of digital tools.

The 2025 Medication Access Report uncovers how effective PSPs combine advanced digital tools with personal interaction to meet individual needs. Investing in digital infrastructure, feedback mechanisms, and a blend of technology and human support can provide insights for optimizing programs, increasing engagement and improving health outcomes. This approach also supports the dimensionalized patient journey to help enhance both patient satisfaction and program success.