ST. LOUIS-A report issued by Express Scripts pointed out that the United States can eliminate 33 percent of its annual pharmacy-related waste by encouraging patients to improve behaviors linked to prescription drugs.  These behaviors include use of generics and home-delivery pharmacies.

The 2010 Drug Trend Report includes results from a Harris Interactive study, and found that 82 percent of patients who use brand-name medications prefer generics. Meanwhile, 70 percent of those using a retail pharmacy to fill prescriptions for chronic conditions prefer to use a home delivery pharmacy.

The report noted that if all patients used generics, low-cost brands and home delivery (when appropriate and available) while adhering to their medication therapy, the nation could cut as much as $403 billion a year in unnecessary spending.

The trick here is to make it easy for patients to act on existing good intentions.  Though patients may prefer to use generics to save costs, the behavior may not necessarily reflect the underlying intention.

"Don't let behavior fool you," said Bob Nease, PhD, chief scientist at Express Scripts, commenting on the report in a press release. "Patients' behavior is often misleading and doesn't represent their underlying intention. Our research and experience show that most patients, when presented with a choice, make decisions that lower costs and improve their health -- decisions that also are in the plan sponsor's best interest."

Turning that intent into behavior can save the equivalent of $434 a year for every man, woman and child in America, the report said.