Effects of Transitioning to Medicare Part D on Access to Drugs for Medical Conditions among Dual Enrollees with Cancer.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of transitioning from Medicaid to Medicare Part D drug coverage on the use of noncancer treatments among dual enrollees with cancer.

Methods: We leveraged a representative 5% national sample of all fee-for-service dual enrollees in the United States (2004-2007) to evaluate the impact of the removal of caps on the number of reimbursable prescriptions per month (drug caps) under Part D on 1) prevalence and 2) average days' supply dispensed for antidepressants, antihypertensives, and lipid-lowering agents overall and by race (white and black).

Results: The removal of drug caps was associated with increased use of lipid-lowering medications (days' supply 3.

Projected Savings and Workforce Transformation from Converting Independence at Home to a Medicare Benefit.

The Independence at Home (IAH) Demonstration Year 1 results have confirmed earlier studies that showed the ability of home-based primary care (HBPC) to improve care and lower costs for Medicare's frailest beneficiaries. The first-year report showed IAH savings of 7.7% for all programs and 17% for the nine of 17 programs that surpassed the 5% mandatory savings threshold.

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

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.