Content by Keyword: Drugs, Medical Devices, and Pharmacy Services

The purpose of this report is to highlight the analytic properties of the assistive technology and environment measures in the final recommended module. The authors address three distinct but complimentary questions: (1) How do questions that combine several environmental features or devices (global measures) compare with more detailed items? (2)

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) commissioned The Lewin Group (Lewin) to determine how and to what extent cost-effectiveness (CE) considerations are incorporated in the approval and adoption of new health technologies and the implications of not incorporating such considerations. This report examines the use

Rapidly rising prescription drug prices have caused many consumers, third-party payers, and policymakers to look for ways to lower their drug costs. One strategy that many have seen as a potential solution is to import drug products from countries where drug prices are lower than those in the United States — commonly called reimportation.

This Policy Brief helps fill an important gap in our understanding of medication patterns in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) by comparing use and spending for prescription and over-the-counter drugs during skilled nursing facility (SNF) stays and related non-qualifying long-term care facility episodes. Its first aim is to characterize Medicare-

This Policy Brief provides a snapshot of prescription drug use and spending in 2001, the latest year for which complete community and long-term care facility drug data are available. For this analysis, the authors present summary findings of: (1) characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries residing in long-term care facilities and the community; (2)

This Policy Brief offers an updated look at prescription drug utilization by Medicare beneficiaries residing in long-term care facilities and reports, for the first time, national estimates of prescription drug spending by this population. [23 PDF pages]

This study had three specific aims: (1) To prepare nationally-representative estimates of drug spending in long-term care (LTC) facilities; (2) To compare drug use and spending for beneficiaries in LTC facilities versus beneficiaries in the community; and (3) To examine medication use and spending by short-stay skilled nursing home facility reside

IGIV is a plasma product that is used to treat patients with immune system disorders. A significant percentage of IGIV use is for off-label indications. Current conditions in the IGIV industry and market are complex and rapidly evolving. The growing demand for IGIV, supply capacity issues, changes in reimbursement, and the relocation of sites of s

This chart book provides data on various aspects of the US health system including public and private health care coverage, provider data, and international comparisons of the US to OECD countries. [128 PDF pages]

The purpose of this report is to establish a baseline knowledge of the scope of assistive technology (AT) and home modifications (HM) services that states make available to Medicaid-eligible adults. This study provides federal and state policymakers with basic information to inform planning and policy development. It also provides other stakeholde

This project reports on analysis using linked Medicaid and FEHBP data examining refinements to the risk adjustment factors for drug plans for low income and institutionalized populations; geographic variation in drug spending by health plan area; and prior use models of drug plan risk-adjustment. [77 PDF pages]

The purpose of this project was to develop, pilot, and disseminate a set of instruments for national surveys to measure the use of assistive technology and the environments in which they are used. The project focused on older adults living in the community. The instruments have been designed as a series of modules that can be adopted in whole or p

This paper examines the combined effects of drug plan risk the first year of Medicare part D implementation of the combination of reinsurance, risk-adjustment and risk-corridors

This paper examines by state variation in drug prices and drug spending. Variation in prices are found to be minimal but variation in spending (and utilization) are more substantial. Further work will explore the underlying reasons for the spending variation and whether patterns persist when analyzed for areas other than states.

This paper describes the work NORC did to supplement the Federal Employee Health Benefits data (FEHBP) used to develop drug risk adjustment factors for over 65 individuals with a full drug supplement to Medicare. This data needed to be supplemented because the FEHBP data did not adequately represent, low-income, disabled, or non east Coast popula

This contract developed data bases to supplement the Federal Employees Health Benefits Data used to develop the drug risk adjustment system for Medicare part D drug plans for low-income and disabled populations; explored geographic variation by state in drug prices and drug utilization; and examined the joint effects on drug plan risk of the combi

This report uses MCBS data to develop a simulation model of the cost impacts of formulary changes. The report examines public and private sector formulary and classification schemes compared with USP Model Formulary and CMS formulary approval guidance. Findings address formularies' potential success under CMS's rules for formulary approval and the

Technology plays a vital role in the lives of older individuals. This report: (1) describes a range of existing and emerging technological solutions for select care issues salient to residential care settings; (2) identifies, based on a review of the literature and discussions with experts in the field, barriers to the successful implementation of

This paper, prepared by a DALTCP student intern, provides an overview of assistive technology for the frail elderly. According to the Office of Technology Assessment, in 1985 there were over 18,000 devices available to aid the functionally impaired elderly. The number has grown since then. The devices range in sophistication from a modified eating