Transcript The Potential Impact of the New Prescription Drug Benefit on Medicare Beneficiaries

The Potential Impact of the New
Prescription Drug Benefit on Medicare
Beneficiaries
Scott Young, M.D.
AcademyHealth
Annual Research Meeting
June 28, 2006
Medicare Prescription
Drug Plans
 Two avenues to coverage:
– Prescription Drug Plan
– Medicare Advantage Drug Plan
 In 2006
– 1,429 PDPs
– 1,314 MA-PD
Selected Characteristics of
Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries
 43% between 65-74 yrs
 >85 yrs fastest growing segment
 28% fair to poor health (self-reported)
– Greater with increasing degree of
poverty
 87% report one or more chronic
conditions
– >90% in those over 85
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation and MCBS
Selected Income
Characteristics
 Median Family Income: 20,400 (2002)
 32% of seniors (age 65-74) have
incomes below 200% of FPL
 Pension contribute ~25% of income to
highest two quintile groups
 Social Security provides the majority of
income for the lowest two quintiles
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation and MCBS
Presentations
 Tanisha Carino - Variation in Beneficiary
Access and Prescription Drug Plans across
Four Large States
 Dana Safran - Rx Use and Spending Among
US Seniors
 Bruce Stuart - Drug Coverage, Disease
Burden and Intensity of Medication Use