Falling into the coverage gap: Part D drug costs and adherence for Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan beneficiaries with diabetes.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To compare drug costs and adherence among Medicare beneficiaries with the standard Part D coverage gap versus supplemental gap coverage in 2006.

Data sources

Pharmacy data from Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans.

Study design

Parallel analyses comparing beneficiaries aged 65+ with diabetes in an integrated MAPD with a gap versus no gap (n=28,780); and in a network-model MAPD with a gap versus generic-only coverage during the gap (n=14,984).

Principal findings

Drug spending was 3 percent (95 percent confidence interval [CI]: 1-4 percent) and 4 percent (CI: 1-6 percent) lower among beneficiaries with a gap versus full or generic-only gap coverage, respectively. Out-of-pocket expenditures were 189 percent higher (CI: 185-193 percent) and a

SUBMITTER: Fung V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2838150 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature