The Promises and Pitfalls of Real-time Benefit Tools: A Qualitative Study of Primary Care Providers

The authors aimed to explore primary care providers' (PCPs) experiences and attitudes toward real-time benefit tools (RTBTs), which are designed to provide cost transparency for medications during patient visits. Through qualitative interviews with 35 PCPs, they found that while providers recognized the potential of RTBTs to enhance patient care and reduce administrative burdens, challenges such as inadequate training, incomplete information, and inaccurate cost estimates hindered their effective use. The study highlights the need for improvements in RTBT functionality to better support clinicians in delivering cost-conscious care.