Implications of Part D for mentally ill dual eligibles: a challenge for Medicare.
Through the Part D drug program, Medicare has assumed responsibility for the prescription drug needs of beneficiaries and, consequently, for an important component of mental health treatment: psychotropic drugs. Managing the prescription drug benefits of mentally ill dual eligibles could challenge this new program. Efforts to balance quality assurance and cost-effectiveness will be complicated by this population's vulnerability and high level of health care need, the uncertainties surrounding optimal psychotropic drug use, and the economic incentives of prescription-only insurers. We discuss the details and policy implications of this challenge.
Morden
Nancy E
NE
Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA. morden@u.washington.edu
Garrison
Louis P
LP
D017047:Cost Sharing; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005569:Formularies as Topic; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D015273:Insurance Selection Bias; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D008484:Medicaid; D006278:Medicare; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs