ST. LOUIS-A report issued by Express Scripts pointed out that the UnitedStates can eliminate 33 percent of its annual pharmacy-relatedwaste by encouraging patients to improve behaviors linked toprescription drugs. These behaviors include use of genericsand home-delivery pharmacies.

The 2010 Drug Trend Report includes results from a HarrisInteractive study, and found that 82 percent of patients who usebrand-name medications prefer generics. Meanwhile, 70 percent ofthose using a retail pharmacy to fill prescriptions for chronicconditions prefer to use a home delivery pharmacy.

The report noted that if all patients used generics, low-costbrands and home delivery (when appropriate and available) whileadhering to their medication therapy, the nation could cut as muchas $403 billion a year in unnecessary spending.

The trick here is to make it easy for patients to act onexisting good intentions. Though patients may prefer to usegenerics to save costs, the behavior may not necessarily reflectthe underlying intention.

"Don't let behavior fool you," said Bob Nease, PhD, chiefscientist at Express Scripts, commenting on the report in a pressrelease. "Patients' behavior is often misleading and doesn'trepresent their underlying intention. Our research and experienceshow that most patients, when presented with a choice, makedecisions that lower costs and improve their health -- decisionsthat also are in the plan sponsor's best interest."

Turning that intent into behavior can save the equivalent of$434 a year for every man, woman and child in America, the reportsaid.