RAND Research Topic: Prescription Drug Benefits 2012-05-24T14:57:29Z Copyright (c) 2012, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation http://www.rand.org/topics/prescription-drug-benefits.html Planning for an Aging Nation: New Estimates to Inform Policy Analysis for Senior Health http://www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/RGSD293.html Apr 12, 2012 Apr 12, 2012 Provides insights into the costs and challenges of providing health care to the elderly population. Survey Results Show That Adults Are Willing to Pay Higher Insurance Premiums for Generous Coverage of Specialty Drugs http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120092.html Apr 1, 2012 Apr 1, 2012 This study estimated how healthy people value insurance coverage of specialty drugs, defined as high-cost drugs that treat cancer and other serious health conditions like multiple sclerosis, by quantifying willingness to pay via a survey. Financial Burden of Prescription Drugs Is Dropping, but Costs Remain a Challenge for Many Families http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120039.html Feb 8, 2012 Feb 8, 2012 The financial burden Americans face paying out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs has declined, although prescription costs remain a significant challenge for people with lower incomes and those with public insurance. Financial Burden of Prescription Drugs Is Dropping, but Costs Remain a Challenge for Many Families http://www.rand.org/news/press/2012/02/08/index1.html Feb 8, 2012 Feb 8, 2012 The financial burden Americans face paying out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs has declined, although prescription costs remain a significant challenge for people with lower incomes and those with public insurance. Sources of Regional Variation in Medicare Part D Drug Spending http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20120031.html Feb 1, 2012 Feb 1, 2012 Regional variation in Medicare Part D spending for prescription drugs results largely from differences in the cost of drugs selected rather than prescription volume. Atypical Antipsychotics May Aid Symptoms for Some Off-Label Conditions, but Not Others http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100207.html Sep 27, 2011 Sep 27, 2011 Evidence supports the effectiveness of some atypical antipsychotics in reducing symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and behavioral symptoms in elderly patients with dementia. There is insufficient evidence that the medications are effective for treating eating disorders, substance abuse and insomnia. How Should Drugs Be Identified in Electronic Prescribing Systems? http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR941.html Jul 20, 2011 Jul 20, 2011 The set of computer-interpretable identifiers currently used in electronic prescribing does not support the specific needs of prescribers and pharmacists. RxNorm, a rigorously derived system of drug identifiers that more accurately reflect the prescriber's intent, has potential to improve e-prescribing transactions. How Should Drugs be Identified in Electronic Prescribing Systems? http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9601.html Jul 20, 2011 Jul 20, 2011 RxNorm has potential to improve how medications are represented in e-prescribing transactions. Use of Prescription Drug Samples and Patient Assistance Programs, and the Role of Doctor&amp;ndash;patient Communication http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201100148.html Dec 31, 2010 Dec 31, 2010 Doctor&amp;ndash;patient communication is strongly associated with use of patient assistance programs; this link has important implications for clinical care regardless of whether the programs are viewed as drivers of prescription costs or a remedy for them. Using Matched Survey and Administrative Data to Estimate Eligibility for Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy Program http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP201000174.html Dec 31, 2009 Dec 31, 2009 This article uses matched survey and administrative data to estimate, as of 2006, the size of the population eligible for the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), which was designed to provide &quot;extra help&quot; with premiums, deductibles, and copayments for Medicare Part D beneficiaries with low income and limited assets. Prescription Drug Cost Sharing: A Powerful Policy Lever to Use with Care http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9474.html Oct 21, 2009 Oct 21, 2009 <p>Describes the effects that prescription drug cost sharing has on drug spending, compliance with drug therapy, patient health, and overall health care costs.</p> Essays on Government Policy and Pharmaceutical Innovation http://www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/RGSD248.html Sep 23, 2009 Sep 23, 2009 <p>Investigates two mechanisms by which governments may influence pharmaceutical research and development priorities: (1) public funding for life sciences research; and (2) prescription drug insurance, as in Medicare Part D.</p> Medicare Prescription Benefit Program Has Exceeded Expectations http://www.rand.org/news/press/2009/08/24.html Aug 24, 2009 Aug 24, 2009 The program created to provide Medicare recipients with prescription drug benefits exceeded expectations during its first two years, extending pharmacy coverage to most seniors while reducing their overall spending on drugs. Medicare Prescription Benefit Program Has Exceeded Expectations http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20090812.html Aug 23, 2009 Aug 23, 2009 <p>The program created to provide Medicare recipients with prescription drug benefits exceeded expectations during its first two years, extending pharmacy coverage to most seniors while reducing their overall spending on drugs.</p> Questionable Estimates of Eligibility for Low-Income Subsidies Under Medicare Part D http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR686.html Jul 23, 2009 Jul 23, 2009 In 2003, Congress added a prescription drug benefit to the Medicare program known as Part D and a Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) for some Part D beneficiaries. About 29 percent were eligible for the LIS in 2006 but there is considerable uncertainty around this estimate. When Drug Cost-Sharing Increases, Patients Newly Diagnosed with a Chronic Illness Delay Starting Medication http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9453.html Jun 29, 2009 Jun 29, 2009 <p>Describes a study showing that increasing copayments for prescription drugs causes patients newly diagnosed with hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes to delay starting treatment, which in turn increases their risk for heart attack and stroke.</p> Preserving Health among Vulnerable Populations: Three Essays http://www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/RGSD245.html Jun 23, 2009 Jun 23, 2009 <p>This dissertation consists of three stand-alone essays that focus on the economics of preserving health among vulnerable population, specifically chronic ill and elderly population.</p> Insurer Bargaining and Negotiated Drug Prices in Medicare Part D http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20090916.html Dec 31, 2008 Dec 31, 2008 <p>The authors test whether insurers that experience larger enrollment increases due to Medicare Part D negotiate lower drug prices with pharmacies. Overall, the authors find that 100,000 additional insureds lead to 2.5-percent lower pharmacy prices negotiated by the insurer, and 5-percent reductions in pharmacy profits earned on prescriptions filled by enrollees of that insurer.</p> Psychometric Properties of an Instrument to Assess Medicare Beneficiaries' Prescription Drug Plan Experiences http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20090325.html Dec 31, 2008 Dec 31, 2008 <p>Using data from 335,249 Medicare beneficiaries who responded to the 2007 Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey, along with data from 22 cognitive interviews, the authors investigated the reliability and validity of an instrument designed to assess beneficiaries' experiences with their prescription drug plans.</p> Drug Cost Regulations Would Hurt Future Medical Innovation; Lower Copays a Better Option http://www.rand.org/news/press/2008/12/16.html Dec 16, 2008 Dec 16, 2008 <p>Controlling prescription drug prices is one way to lower U.S. health costs, but it comes at a cost for future generations. While imposing European-style prescription drug price regulations in the United States would generate modest cost savings, it would impose a larger burden in the future by stifling medical innovation that can extend lives.</p>