Does cost sharing really reduce inappropriate prescriptions?

This paper explores different empirical strategies to examine the effect of cost sharing for prescription drugs in some dimensions of medication-related quality, namely the probability of inappropriate prescription drug use among United States seniors. Using data from 1996 to 2005, we explore various specifications that correct for sample selection, endogeneity¸ and unobserved heterogeneity. We find a small, but measurable, negative price elasticity for inappropriate drug use with respect to self-reported average out-of-pocket costs for all drugs consumed. That is, user fees reduce the use of potentially inappropriate medications, however the elasticity of cost sharing is lower than that of drugs in general and the price elasticity is relatively close to zero, suggesting that any quality improvements from co-payments are small

Does Cost Sharing really Reduce Inappropriate Prescriptions?

This paper explores different empirical strategies to examine the effect of cost sharing for prescription drugs in some dimensions of medication-related quality, namely the probability of inappropriate prescription drug use among United States seniors. Using data from 1996 to 2005, we explore various specifications that correct for sample selection, endogeneity¸ and unobserved heterogeneity. We find a small, but measurable, negative price elasticity for inappropriate drug use with respect to self-reported average out-of-pocket costs for all drugs consumed. That is, user fees reduce the use of potentially inappropriate medications, however the elasticity of cost sharing is lower than that of drugs in general and the price elasticity is relatively close to zero, suggesting that any quality improvements from co-payments are small.

Does cost sharing really reduce inappropriate prescriptions among the elderly?

Improving prescription drug quality is an essential health policy goal in modern health systems, though evidence on the available instruments to attain such a goal are scarce. Cost sharing has an arguable role in improving the likelihood of an individual obtaining an appropriate prescription. This paper empirically examines the effect of cost sharing for prescription drugs in some dimensions of medication-related quality, namely the probability of inappropriate prescription drug use. Using data from United States seniors from 1996 to 2005, we explore various specifications of the probability of obtaining an inappropriate prescription that corrects for sample selection, endogeneity, and unobserved heterogeneity. Our results suggest a small, but measurable, negative price elasticity for inappropriate drug use to average out-of-pocket drug costs. That is, we find that user fees reduce the use of inappropriate medications, however the elasticity of cost sharing is found to be lower than that of drugs in general. A relatively close to zero price elasticity suggests that expected prescription quality improvements from co-payments are small in the light of our evidence

Does cost sharing really reduce inappropriate prescriptions among the elderly?

Improving prescription drug quality is an essential health policy goal in modern health systems, though evidence on the available instruments to attain such a goal are scarce. Cost sharing has an arguable role in improving the likelihood of an individual obtaining an appropriate prescription. This paper empirically examines the effect of cost sharing for prescription drugs in some dimensions of medication-related quality, namely the probability of inappropriate prescription drug use. Using data from United States seniors from 1996 to 2005, we explore various specifications of the probability of obtaining an inappropriate prescription that corrects for sample selection, endogeneity, and unobserved heterogeneity. Our results suggest a small, but measurable, negative price elasticity for inappropriate drug use to average out-of-pocket drug costs. That is, we find that user fees reduce the use of inappropriate medications, however the elasticity of cost sharing is found to be lower than that of drugs in general. A relatively close to zero price elasticity suggests that expected prescription quality improvements from co-payments are small in the light of our evidence.Inappropriate prescriptions Cost sharing Pharmaceutical expenditure Quality of care

Prescription drug coverage among elderly and disabled Americans: can Medicare—Part D reduce inequities in access?

This paper explores the determinants of demand for prescription drug coverage among the elderly population in the United States, using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) and seeks to analyse the impact that the Medicare prescription drug coverage bill (Medicare—Part D) has on Medicare beneficiaries. The results indicate that individuals who are Hispanic, black, or of another race or ethnicity, over the age of 74, not married, in poor health, fall into the low- to middle-income brackets, and have less than a high school degree are more likely to be covered through a public program, more likely to be uninsured for prescription medicine outlays, and less likely to have private prescription drug coverage. The paper concludes that there is cause for considerable concern for low income citizens who have significant prescription drug outlays, and, therefore, the greatest need because their prescription drug costs may not be covered beyond a certain limit unless they reach catastrophic proportions. This continues to raise equity in access concerns among elderly patients