Changes in use of lipid-lowering medications among black and white dual enrollees with diabetes transitioning from Medicaid to Medicare Part D drug coverage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The use of lipid-lowering agents is suboptimal among dual enrollees, particularly blacks.

Objectives

To determine whether the removal of restrictive drug caps under Medicare Part D reduced racial differences among dual enrollees with diabetes.

Research design

An interrupted time series with comparison series design (ITS) cohort study.

Subjects

A total of 8895 black and white diabetes patients aged 18 years and older drawn from a nationally representative sample of fee-for-service dual enrollees (January 2004-December 2007) in states with and without drug caps before Part D.

Measures

We examined the monthly (1) proportion of patients with any use of lipid-lowering therapies; and (2) intensity of use. Stratification measures included age (less t

SUBMITTER: Adams AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4135389 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature