December 2011 PMID 22080794

Full coverage for preventive medications after myocardial infarction.

Niteesh K Choudhry, Jerry Avorn, Robert J Glynn, Elliott M Antman, Sebastian Schneeweiss, Michele Toscano, Lonny Reisman, Joaquim Fernandes, Claire Spettell, Joy L Lee, Raisa Levin, Troyen Brennan, William H Shrank

Mentions

138
Peak: 8 in Jun 2019
across 6 sources since Nov 2011

Extended reach

516,167
potential audience

Total likes

158

Video views

701

Mentions per month

Nov 2011 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News72 articles
  • X / Twitter39 posts
  • Blogs18 articles
  • Facebook5 posts
  • YouTube3 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone reflects skepticism about the effect of free medications, with comments like 'adherence averaged just 41-55%' and 'less than half of post-MI patients took meds after a year,' emphasizing doubts about financial incentives alone driving behavioral change. Words like 'amaze' and 'obvious' show mixed feelings, capturing curiosity but also frustration regarding the complexity of medication adherence.

AgreementNeither agree nor disagree

Most discussions highlight the limited effect of free medications on adherence, indicating mixed views on the effectiveness of reducing co-pays.

InterestModerate interest

Posts show moderate interest, as many are curious about the findings but do not dive deeply into detailed implications.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several users question or critique the results, reflecting some engagement but not extensive or detailed analysis.

ImpactNeutral impact

The discussions suggest the findings have some significance in health policy debates but do not indicate a groundbreaking shift.

Abstract in brief

  • Providing full prescription coverage after a myocardial infarction increased medication adherence slightly (by 4-6%) but did not significantly reduce the primary outcome of major vascular events or revascularization.
  • Patients with full coverage experienced a significant reduction in the rates of total major vascular events or revascularization and the first major vascular event compared to usual coverage, without increasing overall healthcare costs.
  • Eliminating copayments lowered patient expenses for medications and services without increasing total spending, suggesting that reducing out-of-pocket costs can improve adherence and clinical outcomes without additional financial burden on the healthcare system.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Ben Ippolito
@ben_ippolito · X

This paper will always amaze me Among patients who *had a heart attack* and *faced no cost sharing* adherence to key prescribed medications (ACE inhibitors/statins/beta-blockers) averaged just 41-55% https://t.co/vXbAZZ7IPm

Sep 26, 2023 · 33 likes · 5 shares · 1,644 followers View post →
Venk Murthy MD PhD
@venkmurthy · X

@mikejohansenmd @leftbundle @drjohnm @Ed_Gerst @DrLindaDykes @pash22 @mancunianmedic @DrAoifeMolloy @MarshallProf @drtimwilson @AndrewFoy82 @AFPJournal Behavior change is very hard. Less than half of people who had an MI and got free meds were taking them after a year in MI-FREEE. Idea that more information will fix this problem that a ride in ambulance and trip to cath lab didn't seems unlikely to me. https://t.co/UxnZusdTNn

Jun 30, 2019 · 19 likes · 5 shares · 22,352 followers View post →
John Mandrola, MD
@drjohnm · X

Good to study nudges, but our priors should be extremely pessimistic given that a) adherence is a mere surrogate and b) MI-FREE found that free meds made no difference in post MI outcomes. https://t.co/rsdxuMJh2m https://t.co/XJLx86DMes

Dec 2, 2024 · 17 likes · 1 share · 68,623 followers View post →
青木 航 / Wataru Aoki
@mighty_tora · X

薬を服用し続けるのは相当難しいんですね。例えば、心筋梗塞後の患者で、薬を無料で提供されても、スタチン服用を継続できるのは40%程度。Verve Therapeuticsはゲノム編集技術を用いてこの領域の課題を解決しようとしている。 https://t.co/fBupayDzdj

Jan 22, 2021 · 14 likes · 2,084 followers View post →
Ben Ippolito
@ben_ippolito · X

In an RCT of patients *discharged due to a heart attack* who faced *no cost for drugs*, adherence for critical meds (ACE/statins/B blockers) was at or below about 50%. I know I'm late to this study but man that is amazing. https://t.co/vXbAZZ7IPm

Nov 20, 2020 · 13 likes · 2 shares · 1,644 followers View post →
Utibe R. Essien, MD MPH
@UREssien · X

A #Pharmacoequity Throwback Thursday. Classic findings from The MI FREEE trial. “Enhanced prescription coverage improved medication adherence & rates of first major vascular events & decreased patient spending without increasing overall health costs.” https://t.co/l18qJthJFj https://t.co/AiGOfUOfMS

Jul 21, 2022 · 10 likes · 3 shares · 23,886 followers View post →

All mentions

bujaj49
@bujaj49 · X

RT @drjohnm: Good to study nudges, but our priors should be extremely pessimistic given that a) adherence is a mere surrogate and b) MI-FRE…

Dec 3, 2024 · 1 share · 1,036 followers View post →
John Mandrola, MD
@drjohnm · X

Good to study nudges, but our priors should be extremely pessimistic given that a) adherence is a mere surrogate and b) MI-FREE found that free meds made no difference in post MI outcomes. https://t.co/rsdxuMJh2m https://t.co/XJLx86DMes

Dec 2, 2024 · 17 likes · 1 share · 68,623 followers View post →
Jakub Hlávka
@JakubHlavka · X

RT @ben_ippolito: This paper will always amaze me Among patients who *had a heart attack* and *faced no cost sharing* adherence to key p…

Sep 27, 2023 · 5 shares · 2,495 followers View post →
Matt Fiedler
@MattAFiedler · X

RT @ben_ippolito: This paper will always amaze me Among patients who *had a heart attack* and *faced no cost sharing* adherence to key p…

Sep 26, 2023 · 5 shares · 4,390 followers View post →
Byron Crowe
@byrondcrowe · X

RT @ben_ippolito: This paper will always amaze me Among patients who *had a heart attack* and *faced no cost sharing* adherence to key p…

Sep 26, 2023 · 5 shares · 249 followers View post →
Alex Hoagland
@Hoagland_Alex · X

RT @ben_ippolito: This paper will always amaze me Among patients who *had a heart attack* and *faced no cost sharing* adherence to key p…

Sep 26, 2023 · 5 shares · 1,930 followers View post →
Manas Kaushik
@MANas8U · X

RT @ben_ippolito: This paper will always amaze me Among patients who *had a heart attack* and *faced no cost sharing* adherence to key p…

Sep 26, 2023 · 5 shares · 1,317 followers View post →
Ben Ippolito
@ben_ippolito · X

This paper will always amaze me Among patients who *had a heart attack* and *faced no cost sharing* adherence to key prescribed medications (ACE inhibitors/statins/beta-blockers) averaged just 41-55% https://t.co/vXbAZZ7IPm

Sep 26, 2023 · 33 likes · 5 shares · 1,644 followers View post →
Utibe R. Essien, MD MPH
@UREssien · X

4/ So what does this mean? Isn’t it obvious that lower copays might lead to better adherence and safe & effective

Jun 1, 2023 · 5 likes · 23,886 followers View post →
Matthew Cervarich
@M_Cervarich · X

Paper: https://t.co/uIwMyV6AW2

Feb 16, 2023 · 86 followers View post →
Venk Murthy MD PhD
@venkmurthy · X

@djc795 @UREssien @DrMarthaGulati @JAHA_AHA @nyugsom_iehe @gcfmd @HeartDocSadiya @mvaduganathan But the effect size in this observational study seems much larger than in this RCT. Why? https://t.co/UxnZurWioN

Dec 6, 2022 · 22,352 followers View post →
Natsir Ramadhan
@natsiradhan · X

RT @UREssien: A #Pharmacoequity Throwback Thursday. Classic findings from The MI FREEE trial. “Enhanced prescription coverage improved m…

Jul 22, 2022 · 3 shares · 564 followers View post →
Brice Nouthe MD
@BriceN35924934 · X

RT @UREssien: A #Pharmacoequity Throwback Thursday. Classic findings from The MI FREEE trial. “Enhanced prescription coverage improved m…

Jul 21, 2022 · 3 shares · 306 followers View post →
A WOMANS DAY
@sondrawomen · X

RT @UREssien: A #Pharmacoequity Throwback Thursday. Classic findings from The MI FREEE trial. “Enhanced prescription coverage improved m…

Jul 21, 2022 · 3 shares · 1,262 followers View post →
Utibe R. Essien, MD MPH
@UREssien · X

A #Pharmacoequity Throwback Thursday. Classic findings from The MI FREEE trial. “Enhanced prescription coverage improved medication adherence & rates of first major vascular events & decreased patient spending without increasing overall health costs.” https://t.co/l18qJthJFj https://t.co/AiGOfUOfMS

Jul 21, 2022 · 10 likes · 3 shares · 23,886 followers View post →
UM V-BID Center
@UM_VBID · X

RT @ErinGillespieMD: Today's @HarvardHBS class in #behavioraleconomics discussed @niteeshchoudhry's MI FREE RCT ⚖️ in @NEJM

Feb 17, 2022 · 1 share · 3,100 followers View post →
Erin Gillespie, MD MPH
@ErinGillespieMD · X

Today's @HarvardHBS class in #behavioraleconomics discussed @niteeshchoudhry's MI FREE RCT ⚖️ in @NEJM

Feb 14, 2022 · 4 likes · 1 share · 4,623 followers View post →
青木 航 / Wataru Aoki
@mighty_tora · X

薬を服用し続けるのは相当難しいんですね。例えば、心筋梗塞後の患者で、薬を無料で提供されても、スタチン服用を継続できるのは40%程度。Verve Therapeuticsはゲノム編集技術を用いてこの領域の課題を解決しようとしている。 https://t.co/fBupayDzdj

Jan 22, 2021 · 14 likes · 2,084 followers View post →
Ben Ippolito
@ben_ippolito · X

RT @ben_ippolito: In an RCT of patients *discharged due to a heart attack* who faced *no cost for drugs*, adherence for critical meds (ACE/…

Nov 20, 2020 · 2 shares · 1,644 followers View post →
Joey Mattingly
@joeymattingly · X

RT @ben_ippolito: In an RCT of patients *discharged due to a heart attack* who faced *no cost for drugs*, adherence for critical meds (ACE/…

Nov 20, 2020 · 2 shares · 3,345 followers View post →
Ben Ippolito
@ben_ippolito · X

In an RCT of patients *discharged due to a heart attack* who faced *no cost for drugs*, adherence for critical meds (ACE/statins/B blockers) was at or below about 50%. I know I'm late to this study but man that is amazing. https://t.co/vXbAZZ7IPm

Nov 20, 2020 · 13 likes · 2 shares · 1,644 followers View post →
Erin Gillespie, MD MPH
@ErinGillespieMD · X

#oldiebutgoodie from @niteeshchoudhry et al @NEJM 2011 on impact of removing co-pays for ❤️meds: https://t.co/wWskWZhazJ ➡️Cluster RCT didn't meet primary endpoint, but med adherence + total vasc events + stroke improved. #financialtoxicity @fumikochino @EmelineAvikiMD #impsci

Jul 20, 2020 · 2 likes · 4,623 followers View post →
Less-Is-More Cardiologist
@DavidLBrownMD · X

@jelevenson @venkmurthy @JoshuaBeckmanMD https://t.co/4C55RaQ2QF

Feb 29, 2020 · 1 like · 22,158 followers View post →
Venk Murthy MD PhD
@venkmurthy · X

@Maratosflier @VPrasadMDMPH Same thing in cardiology. An MI wasn't enough to get most patients to take medications provided for *free*. Yet folks claim a CCTA or genetic scores will do the trick: https://t.co/UxnZusdTNn

Feb 16, 2020 · 10 likes · 22,352 followers View post →
Nicolas Ferreyros
@nickcf · X

RT @lisabari: @rcurtisspalding Removing copays on highly effective medication/services/procedures is the basis of “value-based insurance de…

Feb 11, 2020 · 1 share · 978 followers View post →
Lisa Bari
@lisabari · X

@rcurtisspalding Removing copays on highly effective medication/services/procedures is the basis of “value-based insurance design.” There’s probably more recent evidence of improved outcomes, but here’s one study: https://t.co/NQ5Giw98v5

Feb 11, 2020 · 6 likes · 1 share · 6,729 followers View post →
Venk Murthy MD PhD
@venkmurthy · X

@DavidLBrownMD @JoaoLCavalcante @khurramn1 @onco_cardiology @AChoiHeart @DrRyanPDaly @lesleejshaw @BeanlandsRob @Heart_SCCT @prcardio @MyASNC Strange that a ride in an ambulance, a few days in the hospital and a stent didn't seem to get much med adherence in MI-FREEE (~40-50%). Presumably lifestyle is lower. https://t.co/UxnZurWioN

Aug 10, 2019 · 22,352 followers View post →
Venk Murthy MD PhD
@venkmurthy · X

@HeartOTXHeartMD Not so sure about co-pays in typical post-MI drugs. MI-FREEE trial showed that effect of $0 co-pays was small. It's true for some but not most. https://t.co/UxnZusdTNn

Jul 18, 2019 · 3 likes · 22,352 followers View post →
Amir Lotfi
@AmirLotfi9 · X

Full Coverage for Preventive Medications after Myocardial Infarction | NEJM https://t.co/JyQwS56jvp

Jun 30, 2019 · 393 followers View post →
Ash Paul
@pash22 · X

RT @venkmurthy: @mikejohansenmd @leftbundle @drjohnm @Ed_Gerst @DrLindaDykes @pash22 @mancunianmedic @DrAoifeMolloy @MarshallProf @drtimwil…

Jun 30, 2019 · 5 shares · 32,293 followers View post →
Prash Sanders
@PrashSanders · X

RT @venkmurthy: @mikejohansenmd @leftbundle @drjohnm @Ed_Gerst @DrLindaDykes @pash22 @mancunianmedic @DrAoifeMolloy @MarshallProf @drtimwil…

Jun 30, 2019 · 5 shares · 9,209 followers View post →
Shibley
@dr_shibley · X

RT @venkmurthy: @mikejohansenmd @leftbundle @drjohnm @Ed_Gerst @DrLindaDykes @pash22 @mancunianmedic @DrAoifeMolloy @MarshallProf @drtimwil…

Jun 30, 2019 · 5 shares · 27,506 followers View post →
Dr Linda Dykes has moved to Bluesky
@DrLindaDykes · X

RT @venkmurthy: @mikejohansenmd @leftbundle @drjohnm @Ed_Gerst @DrLindaDykes @pash22 @mancunianmedic @DrAoifeMolloy @MarshallProf @drtimwil…

Jun 30, 2019 · 5 shares · 31,809 followers View post →
John Mandrola, MD
@drjohnm · X

RT @venkmurthy: @mikejohansenmd @leftbundle @drjohnm @Ed_Gerst @DrLindaDykes @pash22 @mancunianmedic @DrAoifeMolloy @MarshallProf @drtimwil…

Jun 30, 2019 · 5 shares · 68,623 followers View post →
Venk Murthy MD PhD
@venkmurthy · X

@mikejohansenmd @leftbundle @drjohnm @Ed_Gerst @DrLindaDykes @pash22 @mancunianmedic @DrAoifeMolloy @MarshallProf @drtimwilson @AndrewFoy82 @AFPJournal Behavior change is very hard. Less than half of people who had an MI and got free meds were taking them after a year in MI-FREEE. Idea that more information will fix this problem that a ride in ambulance and trip to cath lab didn't seems unlikely to me. https://t.co/UxnZusdTNn

Jun 30, 2019 · 19 likes · 5 shares · 22,352 followers View post →
Tarek Nafee MD MMSc
@TarekOmarNafee · X

@AugieLindmark @younes776 https://t.co/T0wFb7mZ9P Here is a good read by @niteeshchoudhry on co-pay and preventive med subsidies after MI.

Jun 24, 2019 · 2,115 followers View post →
水野篤@心臓の医者✨✨
@atmizu · X

@KagiyamaNobu 間違いないですね。 これはもうChoudhryらの我々の領域で知っておくべき有名な研究があります。 自己負担なくてもという面白いものです。 https://t.co/7A9aDzaKbi #CardioJapan

Apr 4, 2019 · 3 likes · 9,916 followers View post →
Venk Murthy MD PhD
@venkmurthy · X

@serioustaurean @anupampom @Doc_Tiger @RogueRad @francisdeng @anish_koka This may not be so different in the US. Only about half of post-MI pts took secondary prevention meds, even when totally FREE. https://t.co/tMNeF9qFxg

Mar 23, 2019 · 4 likes · 22,352 followers View post →
Michael Joyner
@DrMJoyner · X

@TuckerGoodrich @the_hough @kdinbburg @Ulf_Ekelund @mackinprof @B_Holmer @KevinH_PhD @FatEmperor @HermanPontzer @virtahealth https://t.co/YPr9NVCblx

Jan 17, 2019 · 16,721 followers View post →
Joel Topf
@kidneyboy.bsky.social · Bluesky

Following a heart attack only half of patients take their prescribed meds! Even when the meds are free! http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1107913?query=featured_home

Nov 14, 2011 View post →