Editorial: Pill splitting isn’t a promising trend

Sunday, March 19, 2000 | 9:35 a.m.

One of the nation's largest HMOs, UnitedHealthcare, said last week it is going to require its members who use anti-depressant drugs to receive larger doses, which the patients in turn will have to split at home. The insurance company says it's been forced to do so by skyrocketing prescription drug costs. Since larger doses cost less, it saves the HMO money if the patient splits the pills himself.

Last year Nevada's state Board of Pharmacy was on the verge of passing rules curbing pill-splitting, but backed off after it found out it didn't have the power to regulate HMO practices. HMOs certainly are feeling the pressure from rising drug prices, but they shouldn't force patients to split their own pills, especially since doctors have legitimate concerns that not only could dosing errors occur but also that some drugs lose their potency when split.

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