UMMS Affiliation
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine; Meyers Primary Care Institute
Date
5-6-2004
Document Type
Article
Medical Subject Headings
African Americans; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Chronic Disease; Diabetes Mellitus; Drug Prescriptions; European Continental Ancestry Group; Female; Health Care Surveys; Health Services Accessibility; Heart Diseases; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Hypertension; Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; Male; Medicare; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Regression Analysis; Socioeconomic Factors; United States
Disciplines
Health Services Research | Primary Care
Abstract
This study compared drug coverage and prescription drug use by race and Hispanic ethnicity for Medicare beneficiaries with three chronic conditions: diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease. We found that among beneficiaries without any drug coverage black persons and Hispanics used 10 to 40 percent fewer medications, on average, than white persons with the same illness, and spent up to 60 percent less in total drug costs. Having drug coverage somewhat lessened these differences although the effect was consistent with only M + C prescription benefits. Substantially lower medication use remained for dually eligible black beneficiaries and Hispanics with employer-sponsored drug benefits.
Rights and Permissions
Citation: Health Care Financ Rev. 2003 Winter;25(2):63-76. Link to article on publisher's website
Comments
At the time of publication, Becky Briesacher was not yet affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.