FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. — A new Buzz Health study finds that New Mexico has the highest structural risk of prescription abandonment in the United States, followed by Mississippi, New York, Alaska, and Texas.
The Prescription Abandonment Risk Score ranks all 50 states using federal data on out-of-pocket prescription costs, primary care access, poverty, and insurance coverage.
New Mexico’s top ranking was driven largely by limited access to care rather than prescription prices. An estimated 31,838 residents per 100,000 live in federally designated primary care shortage areas, the highest rate in the country. The state ranks 37th for prescription cost burden.
Mississippi ranked second despite having some of the lowest prescription costs in the study. It recorded the nation’s most severe primary care provider shortage score at 19.8 out of 25, along with an 18.3% poverty rate.
Among Medicare patients who do not receive the Low-Income Subsidy, Alaska had the highest average out-of-pocket prescription cost at $229.73 per claim. Texas recorded the highest uninsured rate among low-income adults at 30.1%.
New Hampshire ranked as the state with the lowest prescription abandonment risk, supported by a low poverty rate, stronger provider access, and relatively few residents living in primary care shortage areas.
Buzz Health said the findings show that medication abandonment is not driven by cost alone.
Provider availability, insurance coverage and economic vulnerability can also prevent patients from beginning or maintaining treatment.
The full study, including the complete state rankings and methodology, is available here.
