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
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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