Document Detail


Estimating Medicare Part D's impact on medication access among dually eligible beneficiaries with mental disorders.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17914004     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: Medicare drug benefit (Part D) plans may restrict psychotropic medications more than state Medicaid programs do. This may have important implications for patients dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid whose medications previously were covered under Medicaid. The objective of this study was to estimate rates of medication switching among dually eligible beneficiaries using antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers attributable to their enrollment in Medicare drug plans. METHODS: Baseline data on medication usage patterns among 467 dually eligible beneficiaries with mental disorders from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, formulary data from a sample of Medicare drug plans, and estimates of the utilization response to pharmacy management tools from the Medicaid literature were used to estimate the likelihood of switching medications conditional on use of drugs and assignment to particular Medicare drug plans. RESULTS: Restrictions on psychotropic medications were common among the drug plans studied. Estimated rates of medication switching attributable to Medicare Part D were 6%-10% among dually eligible beneficiaries using antipsychotics, 5%-7% among those using antidepressants, and 2%-4% among those using mood stabilizers. Switching rates varied substantially across plans. CONCLUSIONS: On average, relatively few dually eligible beneficiaries with mental disorders are likely to experience treatment disruptions because of formulary restrictions and utilization controls used by Medicare drug plans. However, beneficiaries in some plans will experience significant barriers to medication access. Given the substantial variation among Medicare drug plans' management of psychotropic medication use, clinicians and social service agencies should counsel their beneficiaries with mental disorders in navigating the complex Medicare drug plan market.
Authors:
Julie Marie Donohue; Richard Gabriel Frank
Related Documents :
11028264 - Evaluation of the impact of pharmacist's advice giving on the outcomes of self-medicati...
8292634 - Medical disorders in a cohort of new york city drug abusers: much more than hiv disease.
8351554 - Limited availability of medications for cancer patients.
22584614 - Guardiva: a novel antimicrobial haemostatic iv dressing: part 2.
18772164 - Longevity of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: implications for clinical practic...
19864114 - Impact of antipsychotic medication on family burden in schizophrenia: longitudinal resu...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)     Volume:  58     ISSN:  1075-2730     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychiatr Serv     Publication Date:  2007 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-10-04     Completed Date:  2008-01-02     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9502838     Medline TA:  Psychiatr Serv     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1285-91     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 De Soto St., A613, Crabtree Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. jdonohue@pitt.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
Data Collection
Drug Prescriptions
Drug Utilization
Eligibility Determination*
Female
Formularies as Topic
Health Services Accessibility*
Humans
Male
Medicaid
Medicare Part D*
Mental Disorders / drug therapy*
Middle Aged
Psychotropic Drugs / therapeutic use
United States
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
K12-RR024154-01/RR/NCRR NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antidepressive Agents; 0/Antipsychotic Agents; 0/Psychotropic Drugs

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Fidelity outcomes in the National Implementing Evidence-Based Practices Project.
Next Document:  Experience of VA psychiatrists with pharmaceutical detailing of antipsychotic medications.