Effect Of Medicare Part Research Articles

The Effect of Medicare Part D on Parkinson's Disease Patients

The Effect of Medicare Part D on Parkinson's Disease Patients

The Effect of Medicare Part D on Drug and Medical Spending

It is not known what effect the increased use of prescription drugs by enrollees in Medicare Part D has had on spending for other medical care. We compared spending for prescription drugs and other medical care 2 years before the implementation of Part D in January 2006 with such expenditures 2 years after the program's implementation in four groups of elderly beneficiaries: Medicare Advantage enrollees with stable, uncapped, employer-based drug coverage throughout the study period (no-cap group), those who had no previous drug coverage, and those who had previous limited benefits (with either a $150 or a $350 quarterly cap) before they were covered by Part D in 2006. Between December 2005 and December 2007, as compared with the increase in the no-cap group, the increase in total monthly drug spending was $41 higher (95% confidence interval [CI], $33 to $50) (74%) among enrollees with no previous drug coverage, $27 higher (95% CI, $20 to $34) (27%) among those with a previous $150 quarterly cap, and $13 higher (95% CI, $8 to $18) (11%) among those with a previous $350 cap. The use of both lipid-lowering and antidiabetic medications rose in the groups with no or minimal previous drug coverage. As compared with expenditures in the no-cap group, monthly medical expenditures (excluding drugs) were $33 lower (95% CI, $29 to $37) in the group with no previous coverage and $46 lower (95% CI, $29 to $63) in the group with a previous $150 quarterly cap, whereas medical spending was $30 higher (95% CI, $25 to $36) in the group with a previous $350 cap. Enrollment in Medicare Part D was associated with increased spending on prescription drugs. Groups that had no or minimal drug coverage before the implementation of Part D had reductions in other medical spending that approximately offset the increased spending on drugs, but medical spending increased in the group that had more generous previous coverage.

The Impact of Medicare Part D on Psychotropic Utilization and Financial Burden for Community-Based Seniors

This study evaluated the impact of Medicare's new drug benefit (Part D) on utilization of psychotropic medications and the consequent financial burden for the elderly population. The effect of Medicare Part D was measured by analyzing 24-month pharmacy claims collected from one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the United States. Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series was used to evaluate population-level changes in the utilization of the most commonly used psychotropic therapeutic categories among seniors, namely antidepressants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines. In the first-year implementation of Part D, the proportion of out-of-pocket payment in total pharmacy reimbursement decreased 18% for antidepressants (net savings of $4.52 per prescription) and 21% for antipsychotics (net savings of $5.71 per prescription). In contrast, the out-of-pocket share paid for benzodiazepines increased 19% (net increase of $2.79 per prescription). Part D was associated with significant month-to-month increase in use of antidepressants and antipsychotics. By December 2006, the antidepressant and antipsychotic prescriptions filled by seniors grew 7% (from 273,166 to 293,590 prescriptions per month, p<.001) and 18% (from 41,079 to 48,276 prescriptions per month, p<.001), respectively, compared with the expected level estimated from prior Part D trends. In contrast, Part D led to an immediate and sustained drop of 5% (from 238,961 to 226,622 prescriptions per month, p<.001) in number of benzodiazepine prescriptions filled by seniors. Part D has improved access to psychotropic medications covered under plans by reducing out-of-pocket expenses. However, the financial burden related to excluded medications, such as benzodiazepines, has significantly increased.

The Impact of Medicare Part D on Psychotropic Utilization and Financial Burden for Community-Based Seniors

This study evaluated the impact of Medicare's new drug benefit (Part D) on utilization of psychotropic medications and the consequent financial burden for the elderly population.The effect of Medicare Part D was measured by analyzing 24-month pharmacy claims collected from one of the largest retail pharmacy chains in the United States. Segmented regression analysis of interrupted time series was used to evaluate population-level changes in the utilization of the most commonly used psychotropic therapeutic categories among seniors, namely antidepressants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines.In the first-year implementation of Part D, the proportion of out-of-pocket payment in total pharmacy reimbursement decreased 18% for antidepressants (net savings of $4.52 per prescription) and 21% for antipsychotics (net savings of $5.71 per prescription). In contrast, the out-of-pocket share paid for benzodiazepines increased 19% (net increase of $2.79 per prescription). Part D was associated with significant month-to-month increase in use of antidepressants and antipsychotics. By December 2006, the antidepressant and antipsychotic prescriptions filled by seniors grew 7% (from 273,166 to 293,590 prescriptions per month, p<.001) and 18% (from 41,079 to 48,276 prescriptions per month, p<.001), respectively, compared with the expected level estimated from prior Part D trends. In contrast, Part D led to an immediate and sustained drop of 5% (from 238,961 to 226,622 prescriptions per month, p<.001) in number of benzodiazepine prescriptions filled by seniors.Part D has improved access to psychotropic medications covered under plans by reducing out-of-pocket expenses. However, the financial burden related to excluded medications, such as benzodiazepines, has significantly increased.

The Effect of Medicare Part D on Pharmaceutical Prices and Utilization.

Medicare Part D began coverage of prescription drugs in 2006. Rather than setting pharmaceutical prices, the government contracted with private insurers to provide drug coverage. Theory suggests that additional insured consumers will raise the optimal price of a branded drug, while the insurer's ability to move demand to substitute treatments may lower prices. We estimate the program's effect on the price and utilization of pharmaceutical treatments. We find that Part D enrollees paid substantially lower prices than while uninsured, and increased their utilization of prescription drugs. We find relative price declines only for drugs with significant therapeutic competition.

The Effect of Medicare Part D on Drug Utilization and Expenditures

The Effect of Medicare Part D on Drug Utilization and Expenditures

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE MEDICATION: USE AND COST PROJECTIONS FOR MEDICARE PART D

ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE MEDICATION: USE AND COST PROJECTIONS FOR MEDICARE PART D