Medicare Monday: Part D helps seniors adhere to medicines by providing access to Rx drug coverage.
Medicare Monday: Gaining Part D Coverage Reduces Hospitalizations and Overall Spending in Medicare.
As you learned in last week’s video, Medicare Part D helps seniors adhere to their medicines by providing access to prescription drug coverage. This helps beneficiaries live healthier lives by avoiding use of more costly medical services, which helps reduce spending in the broader health care ecosystem.
Here’s one example: according to a recent study from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Illinois, gaining prescription medicine coverage through Medicare Part D was tied to an eight percent decrease in hospital admissions for seniors.
Patients with artery plaque, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and dehydration have especially benefited from a decrease in hospitalizations. Here are some examples of how beneficiaries are realizing the value of their Part D coverage. Rena suffers from heart disease and credits Part D for keeping her health in check because she has access to prescription coverage. Vivian and Donald also credit the program for keeping their conditions in check and helping them live longer, healthier lives.
Individuals aren’t the only ones benefitting from Part D; the Medicare program overall saves when beneficiaries take their medicines. The study also found gaining prescription drug coverage through Part D was associated with approximately $1.5 billion in aggregate savings to the Medicare program annually. .
In the coming weeks, our Medicare Monday posts will continue to explore how the Part D program helps individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes and Parkinson’s. We encourage you to check back often and follow the #MedicareMonday hashtag for more!
Read other Medicare Monday posts.
