National trends in use of medications in office-based practice, 1985-1999.
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Increases in physician office visits involving the use or prescribing of a drug were observed between 1985 and 1999 using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. The prescription rate increased from 109 to 146 prescriptions per 100 visits. Growth in drug mention rates for specific therapeutic classes varied by patients' age. The rate of multiple prescriptions per visit rose 39 percent. Similar-size increases were observed after differences in patients' age, number of comorbidities, source of payment, and physician specialty were controlled for. (+info)
Public support for policies that would help people with chronic conditions.
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According to a national public opinion survey, Americans strongly support government solutions to help people with chronic conditions and their caregivers. Such solutions include a Medicare prescription drug benefit, a tax credit for caregivers, a tax break for people who purchase private long-term care insurance, and public long-term care insurance. A majority is willing to support several of these initiatives by paying higher taxes, but our survey suggests that other initiatives may not have sufficient support to offset their incremental costs. In addition, support for these proposals varies systematically by individual characteristics, which suggests that there are different constituencies for each proposal. (+info)
Improving quality through public disclosure of performance information.
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Despite a growing consensus that serious quality problems afflict U.S. health care, state and federal governments have done little to improve the quality of care. Proposed health insurance reforms, including a Medicare prescription drug benefit and the use of tax credits for insurance expansion, could create a mechanism for stimulating and then monitoring improvements in quality. We propose legislative requirements that any new expenditure of federal funds for health benefits be accompanied by public disclosure of performance information regarding quality, effectiveness, and safety. Such disclosure could yield diverse public and institutional benefits. (+info)
Impact of generosity level of outpatient prescription drug coverage on prescription drug events and expenditure among older persons.
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OBJECTIVES: This study examined the impact of drug coverage generosity on older persons' prescription events (fills) and expenditures. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 6237 older persons from the 1995 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. Dependent variables were per capita prescription events and expenditures. Independent variables were insurance type and drug coverage generosity. Control variables included sociodemographic and health status factors. RESULTS: Regardless of insurance type, per capita prescription events increased as drug coverage generosity improved and then decreased at the most generous level. Per capita prescription expenditures increased as generosity improved; with generous prescription coverage, prescription expenditures were approximately 3 times those with Medicare only. CONCLUSIONS: Even when factors that affect drug use and insurance selection are controlled, prescription coverage generosity influences prescription use. (+info)
What physicians need to know about seniors and limited prescription benefits, and why.
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More and more often, seniors are faced with outpatient prescription benefits that have annual spending limits, and they may be forced to cut back on use of medications when they run out of benefits before the end of the year. Family physicians can play a valuable role by helping seniors choose the best value medications for their budgets and by checking whether or not seniors can afford their prescriptions. (+info)
Medicare program; Medicare-Endorsed Prescription Drug Card Assistance Initiative. Final rule.
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This final rule describes the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Medicare-Endorsed Prescription Drug Card Assistance Initiative, and sets forth the necessary requirements to participate in the initiative. (+info)
State regulation of private health insurance: prescription drug benefits, experimental treatments, and consumer protection.
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This study analyzes the results of 2 surveys sent to state insurance commissioners that focused on policies regulating conventional health insurance and managed care organizations (MCOs) during 2000. Surveys were returned by 49 states and the District of Columbia. Several states have implemented regulations mandating prescription drug coverage. In addition, some states now require health insurers and MCOs to cover the medical care associated with experimental medications and treatments. Some states have also created laws allowing beneficiaries to sue their health insurer or MCO for damages caused by denial of care. These state policies provide a rich source of data for federal policy makers to analyze as they consider new patient protection legislation and amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. (+info)
Does insurance coverage for drug therapy affect smoking cessation?
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Whether insurance coverage for smoking-cessation medicines increases quitting rates is uncertain. In this paper we evaluate the overall effect of a new health plan pharmacy benefit on the use of pharmacotherapy, attempts to quit, and quitting rates. The presence of a smoking-cessation pharmacy benefit as implemented by these health plans produced no change in the use of bupropion, nicotine patches, or nicotine gum, nor did it result in higher rates of quitting smoking. Further studies are needed to test whether greater efforts to make smokers aware of insurance benefits or adding other types of cessation support might lead to any beneficial effects. (+info)