Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Prescription Drug Benefits: Cost Management Issues For Medicare
Research Report
Peter D. Fox, PDF Incorporated
August 2000
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An AARP Public Policy Institute analysis by Peter D. Fox of issues decision-makers would face in managing the cost and utilization of a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. Among the issues addressed by Dr. Fox of PDF Incorporated are:
- Which drugs should be covered?
- How broad should the pharmacy network be?
- To what extent, and how, should beneficiaries be encouraged to obtain less expensive medications when appropriate?
- How should prescription drug utilization be managed?
The analysis suggests that operational decisions associated with a Medicare drug benefit might best be made by an independent body or commission in order to insulate such decisions from political considerations. (33 pages)
Pub ID: 2000-09