Evaluating the impact of Medicare Part D on quality metrics

Abstract

Subsidized access to medical and pharmacy benefits is not a goal in and of itself; it is a means toward an end (improved health outcomes). Accordingly, the addition of an outpatient prescription drug benefit (Part D) to Medicare in 2006 will be deemed a success if it provides better, more affordable access to outpatient prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries and, more importantly, improves drug adherence and health outcomes, together with reducing or at least bending the cost curve by offsetting certain healthcare costs such as hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Priest and colleagues examine these claims and find suboptimal outcomes despite improved access.

Keywords::

• healthcare costs
• healthcare utilization
• Medicare Part D
• medication adherence
• quality-of-care metrics

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.