Working Paper: NBER ID: w14413
Authors: Anirban Basu; Wesley Yin; G Caleb Alexander
Abstract: Features of Part D gave rise to broad concern that the drug benefit would negatively impact prescription utilization among the six million dual eligible beneficiaries, either during the transition from state Medicaid to Part D coverage, or in the long-run. At the same time, Part D contained other features, such as its auto-enrollment and premium subsidization policies, which were designed to safeguard utilization for this vulnerable group. Using national retail pharmacy claims, we examine the experience of dual eligibles during the first 18 months of Part D. We find no evidence that Part D adversely affected pharmaceutical utilization or out-of-pocket expenditures in the transition period, or in the 18 months subsequent to Part D implementation.
Keywords: Medicare; Part D; Dual Eligible Beneficiaries; Prescription Utilization; Expenditures
JEL Codes: H42; I11; I18
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Medicare Part D (H51) | prescription utilization (I11) |
| Medicare Part D (H51) | out-of-pocket expenditures (H51) |
| Medicare Part D (H51) | medication adherence (I18) |
| Medicare Part D (H51) | access to necessary medications (I14) |