title: Effect of Part D coverage restrictions for antidepressants, antipsychotics, and cholinesterase inhibitors on related nursing home resident outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2006, Medicare Part D transitioned prescription drug coverage for dual-eligible nursing home residents from Medicaid to Medicare and randomly assigned them to Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs). Because PDPs may differ in coverage, plans may be more or less generous for drugs that an individual is taking. Taking advantage of the fact that randomization mitigates potential selection bias common in observational studies, this study sought to assess the effect of PDP coverage on resident outcomes for three medication classes--antidepressants, antipsychotics, and cholinesterase inhibitors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study to examine the effect of coverage restrictions--including noncoverage and coverage with restrictions--on depression, hallucinations and delusions, aggressive behaviors, cognitive performance, and activities of daily living for dual-eligible nursing home residents randomized to PDPs in 2006 to 2008. The analyses further adjusted for baseline health status to address any residual imbalances in the comparison groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Linked data from Medicare claims, Minimum Data Set assessments, pharmacy claims, and PDP formulary information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dual-eligible nursing home residents aged 65 and older living in facilities that contracted with a single pharmacy provider.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PDP coverage restrictions in three medication classes of interest were not significantly associated with the resident outcomes examined. Although cholinesterase inhibitor users facing coverage restrictions had a 0.04-point lower depression rating score than residents facing no restrictions, this difference was not statistically significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that exogenous changes in coverage for three commonly used medication classes had no detectable effect on nursing home resident outcomes in 2006 to 2008. There are several possible explanations for this lack of association, including the role of policy protections for dual-eligible nursing home residents and the possibility that suitable clinical alternatives were identified or that previously used medications offered little clinical benefit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: A James
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: O'Malley
authors.forename: Stacie B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Dusetzina
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Zarowitz
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Chernew
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Newhouse
authors.forename: Haiden A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Huskamp
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003702:Delusions / Q000188:drug therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D063026:Dual Medicare Medicaid Eligibility; D005260:Female; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D054524:Medicare Part D; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors
keywords: Medicare Part D; coverage restrictions; nursing home