Prescription Drugs
Rx Watchdog Report: Trends in Prices of Prescription Drugs Used by Medicare Beneficiaries
Research Report
Leigh Purvis, AARP Public Policy Institute
Stephen W. Schondelmeyer, PRIME Institute of the University of Minnesota
David J. Gross, AARP Education & Outreach
April 2009
Learn More
- Current reports
- 2004-2006 reports
Related links
AARP.org: Rx Watchdog Report Newsletter2008 Reports
2008 Year-End Update- Full Report (Publication ID: 2009-07), April 2009 (PDF, 71 pages)
- In Brief (Publication ID: INB172), April 2009 (PDF, 2 pages)
2007 Reports
Specialty Prescription Drugs- 2007 Year-End Update (Publication ID: 2008-15), September 2008 (PDF, 38 pages)
- Third Quarter 2006 Update (Publication ID: DD151), January 2007 (PDF, 14 pages)
- 2007 Year-End Update (Publication ID: 2008-05), March 2008 (PDF, 49 pages)
These AARP Public Policy Institute reports present the most recent results of studies of changes in manufacturers' prescription drug list prices (i.e., the prices set by drug manufacturers to charge wholesalers and other direct purchasers for drug products) for prescription drugs. These reports are based on drugs widely used by Medicare beneficiaries; previous reports were based on utilization patterns for older Americans in general.
Specifically, the reports compare price changes with the rate of inflation. They also present differences in average price changes by manufacturer and by major therapeutic category. The sample of drugs studied was identified using 2006 data from a Medicare Part D plan provider, and changes in prices charged by drug manufacturers to wholesalers were measured using changes in the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC).
For more information, please contact David Gross at 202/434-3209.