Drug Coverage, Utilization and Health in the Rheumatoid Arthritic Elderly Popula

Senior Fellow Research Projects Sponsored by RWJF Center for 
 
Geographic Area Served

National
Project Description
The project evaluates the effect of prescription drug insurance coverage on prescription drug use and health among elderly patience with arthritis. Estimates are obtained using multivariate regression and a fixed-effects (within person) research design that controls for unmeasured person-specific effects that may confound the relationships of interest. Analyses were based on Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey for the years 1992–2004. Estimates showed that prescription drug coverage is associated with a 2% to 15% increase in the utilization of prescription drugs depending on the type and generosity of the coverage. In addition, drug coverage had a bigger impact on patients who had other chronic conditions. For instance, drug coverage increased use of diabetic drugs by 20%, whereas it had relatively low impact on the use of medication used for acute illness (2%). We found no evidence that drug coverage improved all cause hospitalization and general health status. The results of the analysis also suggest the importance of controlling for selection bias. Our estimates on drug coverage were reduced markedly when we accounted for selection into plans.
 
Eligibility

 
Contact Information:
Location Mailing Address
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy
University of New Mexico
MSC05 3400, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque
NM
87131
 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Health Policy
University of New Mexico
MSC05 3400, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque
NM
87131
 
Email Telephone
RWJF-UNM center@unm.edu
Nasreen Khan NKhan@salud.unm.edu
 
 
RWJF-UNM (505)277-0130
 
 
Fax (505)277-0118
Website  
RWJF-UNM Center for Health Policy at UNM
   







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