[Promoted by Chris]
Those who are covered under Part D will have to pay increasing costs for their prescriptions, as many will hit the donut hole/coverage up to two months earlier than others who depend on Part D for their prescriptions.
A study by Thompson Medsat compares out-of-pocket costs of Part D beneficiaries with depression, anxiety disorders and schizophrenia, using the claims experience of Medicare beneficiaries who are in employer-sponsored retiree plans. Specifics:
* One with schizophrenia would spend $2,453 in one calendar year under Medicare Part D, compared with $596 for patients with employer-sponsored plans; a difference of 76 percent.
* One with depression – would spend $2,181 in one calendar year under Medicare Part D, compared with $694 for patients with employer-sponsored plans; a difference of 68 percent.
* One with anxiety – would spend $1,884 in one calendar year under Medicare Part D, compared with $659 for patients with employer-sponsored plans; a difference of 65 percent.
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One important reason for higher drug costs for patients with mental illness is thatmental health problems may complicate physical health problems. As a result,and vice versa more medication would be necessary. This partially explains why mental health patients would reach the donut hole more rapidly than others who have Part D.
Fifty percent of those counted in the study would reached the doughnut hole by August 6, resulting in a four-and-a-half month perioud in which out of pocket costs were necessary.
APPROXIMATE DATES, DIAGNOSES, DONUT HOLE
* Schizophrenia would reach the doughnut hole by June 1.
* Depression would reach the doughnut hole by June 21.
* Anxiety would reach the doughnut hole by July 6.
Out-of-pocket cost increases on prescription drug utilization were evaluated, theorizing patients could discontinue maintenance medications by 0.1 percent to 0.4 percent for every 1 percent increase in co-payments.
Theresa Gibson, PhD, director of research at Thomson Medstat,
“The new Medicare drug law protects elderly patients with mental illness who would otherwise have had no coverage and face high prescription drug costs, but existing private coverage is substantially better than the standard Part D plan. Employers play an important role in providing prescription drug coverage to retirees. Employers weighing a move to Medicare Part D for retiree benefits need to consider more than the initial cost savings, especially when the impacts from potentially decreased utilization are taken into account.”
The study was conducted by Thomson Medstat and the National Intitute of Health.