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Prescription Drugs

2007 Survey of WV Residents Age 50+ on Prescription Drug Affordability  / Research Report
April 2008— West Virginia residents age 50+ are concerned about the rising cost of prescription drugs, according to this recent AARP survey, with Boomers age 50-61 being significantly more concerned than others in the 50+ population. (15 pages)

Rx Watchdog Report: Trends in Manufacturer Prices of Brand Name Prescription Drugs Used by Medicare Beneficiaries—2002-2007  / Research Report
March 2008— Changes in prices charged by manufacturers to wholesalers and other direct purchasers for the brand name drugs most widely used by Medicare beneficiaries are examined in this series of AARP Public Policy Institute reports.

Prescription Drugs and Medicare Part D: A Report on Access, Satisfaction, and Cost  / Research Report
November 2007— People aged 50 and older are generally satisfied with their access to brand name and generic prescription drugs and are willing to talk to their physicians and other health professionals about their prescription drug options, according to this October 2007 AARP telephone survey. Individuals aged 65 and older who have Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage report high levels of satisfaction with the plan and their premiums, with many stating that prescription drugs are more affordable now than they were prior to their enrollment. (37 pages)

Access & Affordability of Prescription Drugs: An AARP Study of New Jersey's Hispanic Population  / Research Report
September 2007— With 43 percent of age 18+ Hispanics in New Jersey reporting incomes under $20,000 and 46 percent paying full price for Rx drugs, this May 2007 telephone survey finds that 50 percent of those surveyed who bought a prescription drug in the last year and 66 percent of those without prescription drug coverage are having problems paying for medications.(19 pages)

An Evaluation of the 2006 Medication Review Programs  / Research Report
June 2007— The success of AARP medication review programs in changing medication-related behaviors is evaluated in this baseline survey and follow-up among 222 participants in California, Colorado, Oregon and Virginia. Volunteer pharmacists were also surveyed to determine their experiences and findings (9 pages).

Biologics in Perspective: Expanded Clinical Options amid Greater Cost Scrutiny  / Research Report
June 2007— Once rarely prescribed, biologic drugs have rapidly become a more common treatment option despite very high costs. Biologic costs by medical condition, and federal legislation that would create an approval pathway within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for generic biologics are reviewed in this AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Lee Rucker. (4 pages) (Publication ID: FS136)

Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable - Tough Choices: AARP Member Surveys  / Research Report
April 2007— The concerns of AARP members in several states regarding prescription drug affordability, out-of-pocket costs and financial hardships associated with paying are examined in this series of December 2006 telephone surveys of 800 members in each state. Opinions about programs to lower prescription drug prices and consumers’ costs across each state are also gauged.

AARP 2006 Prescription Drug Study with Hispanics and African Americans  / Research Report
April 2007— State legislative actions to adopt preferred drug lists and purchase prescription drugs in bulk are strongly supported by Hispanics and African Americans surveyed by AARP in December 2006. The telephone survey of 2,000 age 18+ Hispanics and African Americans reveals their widespread concern about being able to pay for medications over the next two years. (53 pages)

Trends in Manufacturer Prices of Prescription Drugs Used by Older Americans  / Research Report
March 2007— Changes in manufacturer's prices for the prescription drugs most widely used by Americans age 50+ are investigated in this series of AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) reports by David J. Gross and Leigh Gross of PPI and Stephen W. Schondelmeyer of the PRIME Institute of the University of Minnesota.

Are Americans age 45+ Using Prescription Drugs Wisely: A 2006 Study  / Research Report
February 2007— Experiences with prescription drugs including relationships with physicians and pharmacists, opinions regarding generic substitution, and financial aspects of prescription drugs are examined in this study of 1,200 age 45+ Americans. (85 pages)

Survey of AARP Nevada Members  / Research Report
February 2007— This mail survey was conducted by AARP to explore AARP Nevada members' personal concerns and the issues they view as top legislative priorities for AARP Nevada to work on with the State, as well as volunteerism, work or career and retirement plans, health care needs and expenditures, and utility/energy costs and services.

Medicare Price Negotiation of Prescription Drugs - A National Poll: February 12, 2007  / Research Report
February 2007— When this late January 2007 AARP national poll asked 1,000 age 18+ Americans if Medicare should be allowed to negotiate prescription drug prices with pharmaceutical companies, 87 percent said yes, and 61 percent think Congress should make the issue a top priority. (13 pages)

AARP New York Election Survey: Prescription Drugs -- Executive Summary for State Senate District 7  / Research Report
January 2007— The extent of concern among 400 age 50+ New York residents about the rapidly rising cost of prescription drugs, their support for legislative proposals to help make medications more affordable and how this could influence their choices in the Special Election being held in State Senate District 7 on February 6th, 2007, are examined in this January 2007 AARP telephone survey. (13 pages)

The Development of Effective Medication Management Partnerships: The AARP New Hampshire Member Panel Survey 2006  / Research Report
December 2006— In an effort to encourage New Hampshire AARP members taking medications to improve how they manage these drugs by partnering with their families, friends, physicians and pharmacists, AARP launched a public awareness campaign in September 2005. Its effect on Granite State members during the following year is examined in this report. (12 page)

Experiences with Medicare Part D Among Enrollees and Non-Enrollees  / Research Report
November 2006— While their awareness of and satisfaction with the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan are relatively high, the 3,602 age 65+ enrollees and non-enrollees in this September-October 2006 AARP mail survey rated their understanding of the plan somewhat lower and offered suggestions for changing the program. (52 pages)

AARP Election Watch 2006: Pulse of a Generation  / Research Report
November 2006— Of 1,500 age 42+ likely voters surveyed between October 23rd and 29th, 2006 by AARP, 83 percent are seriously considering the rising budget deficit in their voting decisions, and 76 percent are likely to vote for candidates supporting increased domestic spending while 47 percent favor and 40 percent oppose creating a national sales tax to fund healthcare for children and the uninsured.

Methodological Issues in Estimating Prescription Drug Coverage Using The Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey  / Research Report
October 2006— Various methods used for estimating the prescription drug coverage of Medicare beneficiaries are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Becky Briesacher and colleagues who conclude that the greater consistency and transparency of a standardized approach are needed to eliminate present – and prevent future – discrepancies. (30 pages) (Publication ID: 2006-21)

Legislative Issues in Maryland: A Survey of Self-Identified Registered Voters Age 50 Plus  / Research Report
October 2006— Views and concerns about state legislative issues regarding crime, economic security and health care are explored in this October 2006 AARP telephone survey of 802 self-identified age 50+ registered Maryland voters. (24 pages)

AARP New York Election Survey: Prescription Drugs – Executive Summaries for State Senate District 2, 3, 35, and 49  / Research Report
October 2006— The extent of concern among 400 age 50+ residents in each of four New York State Senate Districts about the rapidly rising cost of prescription drugs, their support for legislative proposals to help make medications more affordable and how this could influence their choices in the November 2006 elections are examined in these October 2006 AARP telephone surveys.

Massachusetts Election Issues: Opinions from AARP Bay State Members  / Research Report
October 2006— The likelihood of their voting for candidates who share their opinions on availability and affordability of long-term care and prescription drugs as well as the provision of retraining funds for older workers is examined in this July-August 2006 survey of 1,545 Massachusetts AARP members. (36 pages)

2006 AARP Ohio Election Issues Survey  / Research Report
September 2006— Staying in their own homes for as long as possible while receiving long-term care services and affording the cost of prescription drugs are two of the chief concerns of AARP Ohio members surveyed in May and June 2006 about issues discussed during November midterm election campaigns. AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH

Opinions About Health Care and Prescription Drug Coverage Among 50-64 Year Olds  / Research Report
May 2006— With the first wave of baby boomers turning 60 in 2006, their concerns may play an important role in shaping present and future health policy. AARP’s Spring 2006 telephone survey of 1,500 persons between ages 50 and 64 reveals how financially protected or unprotected they are for dealing with personal health problems now and in the future. (25 pages)

Legislative Issues in North Carolina: A Survey of Residents 50 Plus  / Research Report
May 2006— Health care (including prescription drugs) and economic security dominate the issues considered most important by age 50+ North Carolina residents in this Spring 2005 AARP telephone survey. And many say they would be likely to vote for or against a candidate for state office based on how he or she addresses these concerns. (29 pages)

2005 AARP Puerto Rico Social Impact Survey  / Research Report
April 2006— Experiences, opinions and concerns regarding the cost and affordability of the prescription drugs they take, the utilities they use, the livability of their communities, home modification, property tax burdens and long-term care are explored in this Summer 2005 telephone survey of 1,010 age 50+ residents of Puerto Rico.

Prescription Drug Issues on Long Island: An AARP Survey  / Research Report
April 2006— Support for proposed consumer protection measures regarding prescription drugs are examined in this late 2005 telephone survey of 800 AARP members in Nassau and Suffolk counties on New York’s Long Island, home to the largest concentration of AARP members in the Empire state. AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH (15 pages).

Prescription Drug Affordability: AARP Survey of Hispanic New Yorkers  / Research Report
February 2006— Hispanic New Yorkers are adamant supporters of legislation that would address prescription drug affordability by allowing the state to implement a preferred drug list and to establish a bulk purchasing program. The telephone survey was conducted in November 2005 among age 18+ individuals in the New York City metropolitan area who identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. (15 pages)

Awareness and Use of Personal Medication Records among 50+ Americans  / Research Report
March 2006— The extent of awareness and use of personal medication records to record all of the medications they currently take is examined in this 2005 telephone survey of 1,023 Americans age 50 and older. Interest in receiving a personal medication record among those who currently do not use one is also measured. (15 pages)

Prescription Drug Affordability: An AARP Poll of 18+ Idahoans  / Research Report
March 2006— Support for public posting of prescription drug prices and for advocates to assist the uninsured in accessing free and low-cost prescription drug programs is gauged in this December 2005 survey of age 18+ Idaho residents. (12 pages)

2005 Survey of Colorado AARP Members  / Research Report
December 2005— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: Long-term care, prescription drug, and natural gas utility issues are examined in this 2005 mail survey of 956 Colorado AARP members.

2005 Survey of Arkansas AARP Members  / Research Report
December 2005— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: Long-term care, prescription drug, and payday lending issues are examined in this 2005 mail survey of 1,004 Arkansas AARP members.

Pharmacists’ Attitudes and Practices Regarding Generic Drugs  / Research Report
September 2005— The opinions of 502 pharmacists about the use of generic drugs, their sources of information about them, and their experience with them are examined in this May 2005 online AARP survey which also explores their interactions with pharmacy customers and how prepared they feel they are to respond to consumers’ questions. (39 pages)

2005 Survey of AARP Members in California  / Research Report
September 2005— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: This mail survey was conducted to explore and measure the opinions of AARP members in California on a variety of issues, including their view of state legislative priorities and their experiences regarding prescription drugs and long-term care.

Brand Name Drug Prices Continue to Climb Dramatically Exceeding Inflation Through March 2005 While Generic Drug Prices Rise Slightly  / News Release
August 2005— The average increase in the price manufacturers charge for brand name prescription drugs widely used by older Americans continued to exceed the rate of general inflation through March 2005, according to the new AARP "Rx Watchdog Report" study released today.

Prescription Drug Affordability: Importation and Safety  / Speech
June 2005— Remarks by AARP CEO William Novelli at the "Prescription Drug Importation: Can it Help America's Seniors?" forum on June 22, 2005.

AARP Study Examines RX Drug Importation Within European Union  / News Release
June 2005— As Congress, state, and local governments continue to debate the cost and safety of importing prescription drugs, cross-border importation between licensed wholesalers has long been taking place within the European Union. A new AARP report looks at the implications of importation in those nations.

Prescription Drug Importation: Can it Help America's Seniors?  / Event
June 2005— AARP Global Aging Program hosts a symposium in Washington, DC focusing on the impact of imported drugs on costs in the US and the safety of our pharmaceutical system.

Parallel Trading in Medicines: Europe's Experience and Its Implications for Commercial Drug Importation in the United States  / Research Report
June 2005— The European Union’s experience with commercial importation by licensed wholesalers of prescription drugs is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Panos Kanavos of the London School of Economics, David Gross of PPI, and David Taylor of the University of London’s School of Pharmacy. (43 pages) (Publication ID: 2005-07)

Prescription Drugs in Nebraska: A Survey of Experiences and Opinions  / Research Report
May 2005— How age 18+ Nebraskans are being affected by the costs of prescription drugs and their support for a statewide prescription drug discount for low and middle income individuals without prescription drug coverage are examined in this February 2005 telephone survey of 1,000 residents. (21 pages)

Prescription Drug Use Among Midlife and Older Americans  / Research Report
April 2005— The importance of having consumer-friendly research on prescription medications for comparing safety, effectiveness and cost is examined in this October 2004 AARP telephone survey of 1,001 age 50+ Americans. In addition they were asked about their conversations with doctors regarding prescription drugs, use of generic drugs, and the perceived impact of direct-to-consumer advertising on consumer choice. (32 pages)

Physicians' Attitudes And Practices Regarding Generic Drugs  / Research Report
March 2005— How doctors feel about substituting generic medications for brand name drugs, how much they know about the generic bioequivalence, where they get their information, and how various pressures from patients, insurance companies and others may affect their decision-making are examined in this online survey of 425 American primary care practitioners and medical specialists. (32 pages)

Prescription Drug Affordability: An AARP Idaho Survey  / Research Report
January 2005— The importance of and support for legislation to create a state prescription drug discount program to help uninsured, low-income Idahoans afford their prescription drugs is measured in this 2004 telephone survey of 800 age 18+ state residents. (30 pages)

Prescription Drugs and Your Pocketbook: 2004 Survey of AARP New York Members  / Research Report
January 2005— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: How the 2.5 million AARP members in New York are being affected by the cost of prescription drugs and how they support various legislative proposals regarding these medications are assessed in this December 2004 telephone survey of 1,001 randomly selected Empire State members. (16 pages)

Oklahoma Prescription Drugs: A Survey of AARP Members  / Research Report
January 2005— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: Concerns about and experiences with prescription drug affordability, particularly out-of-pocket costs and financial hardships associated with paying for prescriptions are assessed in this October-November 2004 mail survey of 1,146 Oklahoma AARP members. (18 pages)

Prescription Drug Affordability: An AARP Survey of Washington Voters  / Research Report
January 2005— The favorable inclination of Washington State voters age 18 and up toward legislative proposals aimed at helping the state’s residents, especially those with lower incomes, to be able to afford their prescription drugs is gauged in this late 2004 telephone survey of 801 self-identified registered voters. (19 pages)

Prescription Drugs: A Survey of Mississippi AARP Members  / Research Report
December 2004— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: The affordability of prescription drugs and the importance of consumers having access to information about them, including safety, effectiveness and price, are examined in this telephone survey of 800 AARP members in Mississippi. (17 pages)

AARP Study Finds Prescription Drug Cost Increases Continuing to Outpace Inflation  / News Release
December 2004— A new AARP report found the annual rate of manufacturers price increases for brand name prescription drugs most commonly used by older Americans more than tripled the rate of inflation over the past year.

AARP Study Finds Changes in Manufacturers' Prices of Generic Drugs Vary Widely  / News Release
November 2004— A new AARP study found that manufacturers’ prices for some generic drugs experienced a rapid rise over the past three years.

AARPSegundaJuventud.org Launches Bilingual Channel on Prescription Drugs  / News Release
July 2004— AARP Segunda Juventud online has launched a bilingual Rx Drugs channel featuring the latest information on the Medicare drug program.

AARP July 2004 Rx Importation Survey  / News Release
July 2004— This Rx importation public survey of individuals aged 50 and over was conducted this past weekend.

Statement from Joanne Disch, AARP Board Member  / News Release
July 2004— AARP urges Congress to enact bipartisan legislation this year to allow for legal, safe importation of lower cost prescription drugs.

AARP Study Finds Brand Name Drug Price Increases Accelerate in First Quarter  / News Release
June 2004— A new study released today by AARP finds manufacturers’ wholesale prices for popular prescription drugs used older Americans rose 3.4 percent.

Statement by AARP CEO Bill Novelli in Support of Rx Drug Importation Legislation  / News Release
June 2004— AARP is endorsing the bipartisan bill to legalize the safe importation of prescription drugs.

Prescription Drug Affordability: A 2004 AARP Montana Survey  / Research Report
June 2004— The need for prescription drug assistance and the importance of – and support for – a state prescription drug program among Montanans are explored in this survey of residents age 18 and older. (28 pages)

Filling the Rx: An Analysis of the Perceptions, Attitudes and Buying Habits of Medicare Beneficiaries  / Research Report
June 2004— The buying behaviors and attitudes of Medicare beneficiaries concerning prescription drugs were investigated in this first of three surveys on this subject, conducted before the introduction of the Medicare discount card. (17 pages)

Drug Price Increases in 2003 Nearly Triple the Rate of Inflation According to New AARP Study  / News Release
May 2004— AARP introduces two new tools to understand drug pricing.

Statement for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Prescription Drug Importation  / Congressional Testimony
May 2004— AARP calls on Congress to enact legislation this year to allow for legal, safe importation of lower priced prescription drugs.

AARP CEO William D. Novelli Challenges Drug Companies on High Cost of Drugs  / News Release
March 2004— AARP letter to CEOs of major pharmaceutical companies urges industry action on high cost of drugs.

Experiences with and Opinions about Prescription Medication: A Survey of AARP Members in Delaware  / Research Report
March 2004— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: Delaware members provided their views on prescription drugs in this November-December 2003 survey. The respondents rated increasing access to affordable prescription drugs and improving the availability, cost, and quality of health care as their top legislative priorities. (36 pages)

Benefits and Risks of Increasing Restrictions on Access to Costly Drugs in Medicaid  / Research Report
March 2004— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper critically examines nearly four decades of published evidence on the economic and clinical effects of state efforts to control Medicaid drug costs and limit access to expensive drugs. The author, Harvard Professor Stephen Soumerai, includes recommendations for research and policy at the state and federal levels. (16 pages) (Publication ID: 2004-04)

Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs in Hawai'i: A 2003 Survey of Residents Age 18+  / Research Report
December 2003— The importance of – and support for – implementation of two state-funded prescription drug programs is gauged in this survey of 1,002 age 18+ people in Hawai’i. The study also broadly assesses the need for prescription drug assistance among Hawai’i residents by examining the out-of-pocket expense and financial burden that buying medications may create for some people. (26 pages)

University Session: "Prescription Drugs and Canada"  / News Release
September 2003— This forum gives an overview of the issue of purchasing prescription drugs from Canada.

Letter from AARP CEO Bill Novelli Expressing AARP’s Support of Rx Re-importation Legislation  / News Release
August 2003— Letter from AARP CEO Bill Novelli Expressing AARP’s Support of Rx Re-importation Legislation.

Prescription Drug Prices in Canada: What Are the Lessons for the U.S.?  / Opinion
July 2003— David Gross, AARP Senior Policy Analyst, discusses what the Canadian experiences with prescription drug pricing can offer the United States as it contends with rising drug costs.

International Forum on Prescription Drug Policy  / Event
June 2003— How are Europe, Australia and Canada balancing rising costs of pharmaceutical benefit programs with the goal of providing access to the most innovative and cost-effective drug therapies available?

Prescription Drug Prices in Canada  / Research Report
June 2003— The extent to which prescription drugs are less expensive in Canada than in the United States and the factors that account for their prices being lower are among the topics covered in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by David Gross. (22 pages) (Publication ID: IB62)

Generic Drugs  / Research Report
May 2003— Basic information about generic drugs’ contribution to reducing prescription drug costs, the generic drug approval process, evidence on generic drug safety and effectiveness, state laws regarding generic substitution, and provider and consumer attitudes toward generic drugs are covered in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief by David Gross. (18 pages) (Publication ID: IB61)

Financing a Prescription Drug Program in Utah: An AARP Survey  / Research Report
May 2003— Utahns’ experience with prescription drugs in terms of their concern about being able to afford their medications and the extent of financial burden they feel when paying for them are examined in this 2003 telephone survey of 1,025 state residents age 18 and older. (32 pages)

Massachusetts Prescription Advantage: An AARP Survey  / Research Report
March 2003— How age 40+ Massachusetts residents feel about their governor’s proposed elimination on June 30, 2003 of the state’s prescription assistance program for age 65+ residents and younger persons with qualified disabilities as part of his efforts to balance the state budget. (13 pages)

AARP Washington Prescription Drug Survey  / Research Report
December 2002— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: How consumers age 18+ in Washington state react to different elements of state legislation designed to help contain prescription drug costs that was proposed but not enacted in 2002 – and their concerns about and experiences with prescription drug affordability (22 pages)

2002 AARP Idaho Prescription Drug Survey  / Research Report
December 2002— Over half of age 18+ Idahoans support the state offering a prescription drug assistance program for persons in need (76 percent), and increasing the state cigarette tax (64 percent) to help pay for it. Of those supporting a state prescription drug program, 93 percent say they would do so even if they are not eligible for it. (14 pages)

AARP Colorado Member Opinion Survey: Prescription Drugs  / Research Report
December 2002— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: With state drug prices having risen in 2001 to an average of $47.99 a prescription, 49 percent of AARP members surveyed in Colorado spend at least $50 a month out of pocket for medications, 45 percent report having had problems paying for Rx drugs during the previous year, and 65 percent are concerned about their ability to pay in the future. (29 pages)

Affordable Prescription Drugs: A Survey of South Dakota Members  / Research Report
November 2002— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: 78 percent of AARP members in South Dakota think it is very important that the state do something to make prescription drugs more affordable for those in need, and 60 percent strongly support funding a prescription drug assistance program for seniors with low and moderate incomes, even if the respondent would not be not personally eligible. (14 pages)

2002 AARP Oregon Prescription Drug Survey  / Research Report
November 2002— Access to comparisons of the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs is called very important by 79 percent of age 50+ Oregonians who also say that a prescription drug guide with this type of comparative information should be made available to them. (17 pages)

Prescriptions and Your Pocketbook: An AARP Pennsylvania Study  / Research Report
November 2002— Prescription drug prices vary widely across Pennsylvania. The variation is most dramatic for Prilosec, where the prices may vary by as much as $26. Mega-discount and club stores frequently have lower prescription drug prices. (77 pages)

Prescription Drug Costs and the Role of Generic Drugs: Public Opinion Among Americans Aged 45 and Over  / Research Report
October 2002— How do age 45+ Americans feel about rising drug costs and the role of generic drugs? Key findings from a September 2002 AARP survey about the use of generic drugs, the impact of rising drug prices on employer-provided healthcare coverage and public support for legislation to increase the availability of generic drugs. (7 pages)

Medicare Beneficiaries and Prescription Drugs: Costs and Coverage  / Research Report
September 2002— Background data regarding prescription drug use and access among Medicare beneficiaries are provided in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by David Gross. Topics include rising drug costs, out-of-pocket prescription drug spending, prescription drug coverage, lack of coverage's effect on medication use, and limitations of state efforts to provide assistance with prescription drug costs. (3 pages) (Publication ID: DD77)

2002 AARP Michigan Prescription Drug Survey  / Research Report
August 2002— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: While 76 percent of Michigan AARP members believe it is important for the State to make prescription drugs more affordable, 74 percent support increased funding for the Elderly Prescription Insurance Program (EPIC), even if it means delaying a reduction in state taxes. (12 pages)

Affording Prescription Drugs: A Survey of Texas Members  / Research Report
August 2002— AARP MEMBER OPINION RESEARCH: 76 percent of AARP members in Texas believe it is very important for the Lone Star State to make prescription drugs more affordable for those in need, and favor funding a state prescription drug program, even if it means reallocating state funds. (14 pages)

West Virginia Prescription Drug Survey: An AARP Study  / Research Report
August 2002— More than half of West Virginians age 60 and older report having experienced problems paying for the prescription medications they need, and two-thirds support the state developing a more comprehensive prescription drug plan, even if the plan required a greater commitment of state resources. (20 pages).

Nebraska AARP Prescription Drug Survey  / Research Report
July 2002— Offering a state-funded Prescription Drug Assistance Program for persons needing help with medication costs is supported by 78 percent of age 50+ Nebraskans even if they might not be eligible for benefits under the program. (24 pages)

Prescription Drug Use Among Persons Age 45+  / Research Report
June 2002— Results of a national AARP telephone survey of the opinions and experiences of Americans age 45+ regarding prescription medication use and non-use, communication with physicians, out-of-pocket costs, behavior regarding medications, advertising, and attitudes toward taking prescription drugs. (122 pages)

Three States' Approaches to Pharmaceutical Assistance: A Guide for the Perplexed  / Research Report
June 2002— Case studies of the development and implementation of New Jersey's direct benefit and California's price discount pharmaceutical assistance programs, and Maine's efforts to provide both direct benefits and drug price discounts. An AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Stephen Crystal, Kimberley Fox, Mina Silberberg, Tom Trail, Susan Reinhard and Joel Cantor of Rutgers University. (67 pages) (Publication ID: 2002-08)

State Pharmacy Assistance Programs 2001: An Array of Approaches  / Research Report
July 2001— Many states--29 as of July 2001--have implemented or are developing programs to help older and disabled residents pay for prescription drugs. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Brief, David Gross provides background information about, a comparison of, and a context for analyzing these programs. (13 pages) (Publication ID: IB50)

Trends In The Costs, Coverage, And Use Of Prescription Drugs By Medicare Beneficiaries  / Research Report
July 2001— Prescription drugs have become an increasingly important and costly element of health care. In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, David Gross reports on issues and provides supporting data relating to Medicare beneficiaries' use of and access to prescription drugs. (4 pages) (Publication ID: DD63)

FYI: The Cost of Prescription Drugs: Who Needs Help?  / Research Report
October 2000— Data on out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs by poor and low-income beneficiaries, as well as by beneficiaries with modest incomes are reviewed by Normandy Brangan and Mary Jo Gibson in this AARP Public Policy Institute FYI report. Also covered are differences in out-of-pocket drug spending between beneficiaries with and without drug coverage. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FYI)

Are Consumers Well Informed About Prescription Drugs? The Impact of Printed Direct-to-Consumer Advertising  / Research Report
April 2000— Results of the Public Policy Institute’s study of the impact of printed direct-to-consumer advertising as a source of consumer information about prescription medications -- and the findings’ implications for public policy. (36 pages) (Publication ID: 2000-04)

FYI: Out-of-Pocket Spending on Prescription Drugs by Women and Men Age 65 and Older: 1999 Projections  / Research Report
April 2000— Out-of-pocket spending on--and coverage for--Rx medication are compared by gender in this AARP Public Policy Institute FYI Report by Mary Jo Gibson and Lisa A. Foley. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FYI)

How Much Are Medicare Beneficiaries Paying Out-of-Pocket for Prescription Drugs?  / Research Report
September 1999— Outpatient prescription drugs, which are not covered under Medicare, represent a substantial burden for many older Americans. This AARP Public Policy Insitute Issue Paper provides data on Medicare beneficiaries' out-of-pocket drug spending according to key beneficiary characteristics. (20 pages) (Publication ID: 9914)

State Pharmacy Assistance Programs  / Research Report
April 1999— This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by David Gross and Sharon Bee describes pharmacy assistance programs in 14 states--including each program's target population, income eligibility requirements, coverage levels, reimbursement policies, and enrollment levels. (23 pages) (Publication ID: 9905)

FYI: Estimates of Financial Burden of Prescription Drugs on Beneficiaries in Medicare Fee-for-Service  / Research Report
September 1998— This AARP Public Policy Institute FYI by David Gross, Craig Caplan and Mary Jo Gibson presents estimates of the extent to which Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries are burdened with out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses. (2 pages) (Publication ID: FYI)

Survey on Prescription Drug Issues and Usage Among Americans Aged 50 and Older -- Requests For Generics Up  / Research Report
May 1996— Findings from a 1995 survey about older Americans use of and attitudes about prescription medicines. Almost half say they have requested generic versions of prescribed drugs.

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