title: Access to medications for medicare enrollees related to race/ethnicity: Results from the 2013 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey.
abstract: Prescription medications are taken by millions of Americans to manage chronic conditions and treat acute conditions. These medications, however, are not equally accessible to all.
  
  
  
  To examine medication access by race/ethnicity among Medicare beneficiaries.
  
  
  
  Using the 2013 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (n = 10.515), this study examined access to medications related to race/ethnicity, comparing non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics to whites. Multivariable logistic regression models were estimated, controlling for age, gender, income, education, chronic conditions, and type of drug coverage.
  
  
  
  Non-Hispanic blacks were less satisfied than whites with amount paid for prescriptions [OR = 0.69,95%CI(0.55,0.86)], the list of drugs covered by their plan [OR = 0.69,95%CI(0.56,0.85)], and finding a pharmacy that accepts their drug coverage [OR = 0.59,95%CI(0.48,0.72)], after adjustment. Low-income individuals were more likely to report not filling a prescription and taking less medication than prescribed. Compared to beneficiaries with excellent health, those with poor, fair, or good health were less satisfied with access. Access was also diminished for patients with depression, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema or asthma.
  
  
  
  Possible interventions for non-Hispanic blacks might include assisting them in finding the best drug plan to meeting their needs, connecting them to medication assistance programs, and discussing convenience of pharmacy with patients.
authors.affiliation: Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, USA. Electronic address: dtjuarez@hawaii.edu.
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.affiliation: Section on Biomarkers and Prediction Modeling, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Chengli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Marshaleen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Section on Biomarkers and Prediction Modeling, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Landsittel
authors.affiliation: Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Consortium, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Helen
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mays
authors.affiliation: Office of Public Health Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Tetine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sentell
authors.affiliation: Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Southerland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D044469:Racial Groups; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: Access to care; Medicare; Medication adherence; Race/ethnicity