The impact of Medicare Part D on medication treatment of hypertension.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate Medicare Part D's impact on use of antihypertensive medications among seniors with hypertension.

Data sources

Medicare-Advantage plan pharmacy data from January 1, 2004 to December 12, 2007 from three groups who before enrolling in Part D had no or limited drug benefits, and a comparison group with stable employer-based coverage.

Study design

Pre-post intervention with a comparison group design was used to study likelihood of use, daily counts, and substitutions between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs).

Principal findings

Antihypertensive use increased most among those without prior drug coverage: likelihood of use increased (odds ratio = 1.40, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] 1.25-1.56), and daily counts increased 0.29 (95 percent CI 0.24-0.33). Proportion using ARBs increased from 40 to 46 percent.

Conclusions

Part D was associated with increased antihypertensive use and use of ARBs over less expensive alternatives.

SUBMITTER: Zhang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3034269 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature