Dual eligibles with mental disorders and Medicare part D: how are they faring?
In 2006, six million beneficiaries who were eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid switched from Medicaid to Medicare Part D for coverage of their prescription drugs. This change led to an expanded role for Medicare in financing psychotropic medications for dual eligibles. A reduction in the number of plans serving these beneficiaries and an increase in utilization restrictions for some psychotropics since 2006 raise concerns about access to medications for dual eligibles with mental disorders and point to potential problems with adverse selection. To improve access for this population, Medicare might consider changes to its enrollment and risk-sharing systems.
University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, USA. jdonohue@pitt.edu
Julie M
JM
Donohue
Haiden A
HA
Huskamp
Samuel H
SH
Zuvekas
D000368:Aged; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000592:standards; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000191:economics; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics; D008484:Medicaid; D006278:Medicare; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs