Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2005;83(1):101-30.
doi: 10.1111/j.0887-378X.2005.00337.x.

Pharmacy utilization and the Medicare Modernization Act

Vittorio Maio  1 , Laura Pizzi, Adam R Roumm, Janice Clarke, Neil I Goldfarb, David B Nash, David Chess
Affiliations
Review

Pharmacy utilization and the Medicare Modernization Act

Vittorio Maio et al. Milbank Q. 2005.

Abstract

To control expenditures and use medications appropriately, the Medicare drug coverage program has established pharmacy utilization management (PUM) measures. This article assesses the effects of these strategies on the care of seniors. The literature suggests that although caps on drug benefits lower pharmaceutical costs, they may also increase the use of other health care services and hurt health outcomes. Our review raises concerns regarding the potential unintended effects of the Medicare drug program's PUM policies for beneficiaries. Therefore, the economic and clinical impact of PUM measures on seniors should be studied further to help policymakers design better drug benefit plans.

PubMed Disclaimer

Comment in

References

    1. AARP. Administration on Aging. A Profile of Older Americans. Washington, D.C.: 1999.
    1. AARP. What Does the New Medicare Drug Benefit Mean for You? 2003. [accessed December 10, 2003]. Available at http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/prescription/Articles/a2003-11-26-foryou.html.
    1. Andrade SE, Gurwitz JH. Drug Benefit Plans under Managed Care: To What Extent Do Older Subscribers Selecting Less Drug Coverage Put Themselves at Increased Financial Risk? Journal of American Geriatrics Society. 2002;50:178–81. 10.1046/j.1532-5415.2002.50026.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Arnett RH, III, Blank LA, Brown AP, Cowan CA, Donham CS, Freeland MS, Lazenby HC, Letsch SW, Levit KR, Maple BT, McDonnell PA, Sonnefeld ST, Stewart MW, Waldo DR. National Health Expenditures, 1988. Health Care Financing Review. 1990;11:1–41. Office of National Cost Estimates. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Beers MH, Baran RW, Frenia K. Drugs and the Elderly, Part 1: The Problems Facing Managed Care. American Journal of Managed Care. 2000;6:1313–20. - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms