Using Prescription Medication Utilization Trends to Evaluate Health System Resilience and Inform Future Emergency Preparedness

In an analysis of prescription medication trends in Colorado during the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors found an immediate drop of 3.3 prescription fills per 100 insured adults, with retail pharmacy prescriptions rebounding over time due to telehealth and mail-order options while physician-administered therapies saw sustained decreases. These findings highlight importance of maintaining telehealth flexibilities and ensuring safe access to in-person treatments to build a more resilient health system for future public health emergencies.