Drug coverage, utilization, and spending by Medicare beneficiaries with heart disease.
For Medicare beneficiaries who report having heart disease, drug coverage and type of supplemental health insurance affect the likelihood of usage and costs of heart medications, but not the extent of usage. Nearly one in five does not use heart medications and of the latter, one-third lack drug coverage. Some non-users without drug coverage go without prescribed heart medications because of limited financial access. Compared to non-users with coverage, they utilize medical provider services more, and if hospitalized, their inpatient costs are twice as high. Medicare may accrue cost savings by providing drug coverage to and monitoring these at-risk beneficiaries.
Sharma
Ravi
R
Westat, RP5022, MCBS Survey Operations, 1650 Research Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20850, USA. ravisharma@westat.com
Liu
Hongji
H
Wang
Yinghua
Y
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016345:Medicare Part B / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D014481:United States
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents