Overview of Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit: potential implications for patients with psychotic disorders.
OBJECTIVE
Medicare Part D prescription drug benefits are reviewed. Potential implications for patients with psychotic disorders in relation to Medicare Part D are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
The newly created Medicare Part D provides prescription drug benefits to many individuals formerly without prescription benefits and, possibly, lower-cost benefits to those who previously relied on other benefits. Participating prescription plans use a variety of pharmacy management tools to minimize costs while providing benefit plans that meet Part D requirements for composition and coverage. Patients then have the challenge of choosing a prescription drug plan that will best satisfy their prescriptions needs.


CONCLUSIONS
The rollout of Part D has not been without problems, and although more Medicare participants are receiving prescription drug benefits at a greater savings, there are concerns that Part D may not provide adequate coverage for all patients or for patients requiring certain types of medications, especially some psychotropic medications. Pharmacists have voiced concerns about the Medicare Part D drug plan in regard to both the degree of coverage it provides to enrollees and the difficulty in administering the benefit.
Rosenberg
Jack M
JM
International Drug Information Center, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA. j666666@attglobal.net
D000368:Aged; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003363:Cost Control; D017046:Cost Savings; D017047:Cost Sharing; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D005569:Formularies as Topic; D006078:Government Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics*; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010595:Pharmacists; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents