Findings Brief

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Changes in Drug Utilization for Seniors Without Prior Prescription Drug Insurance

Key Findings: 
  • After the passage of the Medicare Modernization Act, a majority of individuals without previous prescription drug coverage obtained coverage under Medicare Part D.
  • Among previously uninsured seniors, utilization of prescription drugs increased with the introduction of Medicare Part D. There was rapid uptake of newly marketed generics.
  • Dual eligibles had little change in prescription utilization or rates of switching between drugs after the implementation of Part D. Out-of-pocket spending was significantly reduced for this population.
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March 2009
HCFO

A Sustainable Future?: The Role of Premium Subsidies in Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

Vol. X, No. 2
January 2007
HCFO

Are Medicare prescription drug plans sustainable? Steven D. Pizer, Ph.D., and colleagues examined adverse selection in PDPs, the entrance of PPOs into regional markets where HMOs already existed, and the introduction of PDPs and PPOs in the market where HMOs did not have a presence, and found that modest differences in benefit plans do not dramatically affect market share of different plans. Learn more in the HCFO Findings Brief.

Assessing the Impact of Coverage Gaps in the Medicare Part D Drug Benefit

Key Findings: 
  • Medicare beneficiaries reduced their drug spending in response to interruptions in prescription coverage prior to the implementation of the Part D benefit
  • Interruptions in drug coverage were amplified, as a response to gaps in prescription drug coverage, for those suffering from chronic conditions
  • Trends in spending and medication utilization by Medicare beneficiaries in this study illustrate how Part D beneficiaries potentially would decrease their medication utilization as a response to increasing gaps in their prescription coverage
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Vol. XI, No. 3
April 2008
HCFO

How will the Part D "doughnut hole" impact utilization and spending of Medicare beneficiaries? Bruce Stuart, Ph.D., and colleagues analyzed prescription drug utilization trends prior to the implementation of Medicare Part D and found that interruptions in coverage led to reduced spending on drugs, especially for people suffering from chronic conditions. Learn more in the HCFO Findings Brief.

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