title: Impact of Medicare Part D on coverage, access, and disparities among new jersey seniors.
abstract: The authors used a population-based survey of New Jersey residents to assess outcomes associated with implementation of the Medicare Part D program. Between 2001 and 2009, there was a 24% increase in prescription drug coverage among elderly individuals, but also an increase in cost-related access problems. Compared with the pre-Part D period, seniors reporting access problems post-Part D were less likely to be uninsured and more likely to be publicly insured. Cost-related access disparities among elderly Blacks and Hispanics relative to elderly Whites persisted from 2001 to 2009, and were partly driven by ongoing disparities related to low income. Such cost-based access problems 3 years into implementation implies that they are not transitory and may reflect inadequate subsidy levels alongside the importance of physician advice about prescriptions in ensuring low-cost medication options for vulnerable patients. Finally, the findings, may also reflect success in enrolling high-need seniors into Part D.
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA schakravarty@ifh.rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Sujoy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chakravarty
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gaboda
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DeLia
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Joel C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cantor
authors.affiliation: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nova
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054524:Medicare Part D / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Medicare Part D; prescription access; prescription cost sharing; prescription coverage; racial disparities