A study published in Health Affairs examined one value-based insurance program that reduced copayments to encourage drug utilization.  The authors found that the program led to reduced utilization of non-drug health services, offsetting the costs associated with the increased drug utilization.  The study concludes that value-base insurance, which incentivizes the use of high-value clinical care through reduced out-of-pocket costs, does not increase total medical spending.

Chernew, M.E., et. al. Evidence that value-based Insurance can be effective. Health Affairs 29(3): 530-536. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0119. http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/abstract/hlthaff.2009.0119

Authors: Michael E. Chernew, Iver A. Juster, Mayur Shah, Arnold Wegh, Stephen Rosenberg, Allison B. Rosen, Michael C. Sokol, Kristina Yu-Isenberg and A. Mark Fendrick