State medicaid coverage of over-the-counter moisturizers: A cost-effective management strategy for atopic dermatitis?

Regular moisturizing with over-the-counter (OTC) treatments is considered a cornerstone of atopic dermatitis (AD) management regardless of disease severity, but OTC moisturizers are not an eligible product under most state Medicaid benefits, including those of New York (NY). Removing the financial barrier to AD management may lessen both the economic burden and emotional toll of the disease for patients and their families with the added benefit of decreasing healthcare costs. Herein, the theoretical annual cost of OTC moisturizer was calculated for a patient with AD in NY to range between $35.13 to $63.35 for infants to $175.66 to $316.75 for adults, and Medicaid reimbursement rates and reported direct and indirect costs of AD were reviewed. We conclude with a discussion of Medicaid coverage criteria for drugs, cost-effectiveness and preventative medicine, and the role of advocacy for changes in health policy.