womenfall quiclky into MediCare donumt hole

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Diabetic Women Fall Fast Into Medicare 'Doughnut Hole'

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This article originally posted

13 April, 2010

and appeared in

Issue 517

Diabetic Women Fall Fast Into Medicare 'Doughnut Hole'

Among elderly Americans, women and those with diabetes and dementia are most

likely to find themselves in the Medicare Part D drug plan " doughnut

hole " ....

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the coverage gap that occurs after a beneficiary has reached the annual

coverage limit but hasn't spent enough on drugs to qualify for catastrophic

coverage.

Among elderly Americans, women and those with diabetes and dementia are most

likely to find themselves in the Medicare Part D drug plan " doughnut hole, "

the coverage gap that occurs after a beneficiary has reached the annual

coverage limit but hasn't spent enough on drugs to qualify for catastrophic

coverage.

Researchers analyzed the records of more than 287,000 Medicare enrollees in

eight states and found that 16 percent of them entered the doughnut hole.

Nearly

3 percent entered the gap very early -- within the first 180 days of the

year. Of the enrollees who entered the gap, only 7 percent eventually

qualified

for catastrophic coverage.

Along with women and patients with dementia and diabetes, patients most

likely to fall into the doughnut hole included those with end-stage renal

disease,

coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mental

health conditions and congestive heart failure.

These groups should be counseled by doctors on how best to manage medication

costs through either drug substitution or discontinuation of certain

nonessential

medications, study lead author Ettner, professor of medicine in the

division of general internal medicine and health services research at the

Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, said in a

news release.

" This is important so that more essential medication is not discontinued,

with adverse effects on patients' health due to cost reasons only. These

patients

need to continue adhering to their medication regimen, " Ettner said in a

news release.

Journal of General Internal Medicine. March 25, 2010

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This article originally posted 13 April, 2010 and appeared in

Issue 517

Diabetic Women Fall Fast Into Medicare 'Doughnut Hole'

Among elderly Americans, women and those with diabetes and dementia are most

likely to find themselves in the Medicare Part D drug plan " doughnut

hole " ....

Advertisement

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the coverage gap that occurs after a beneficiary has reached the annual

coverage limit but hasn't spent enough on drugs to qualify for catastrophic

coverage.

Among elderly Americans, women and those with diabetes and dementia are most

likely to find themselves in the Medicare Part D drug plan " doughnut hole, "

the coverage gap that occurs after a beneficiary has reached the annual

coverage limit but hasn't spent enough on drugs to qualify for catastrophic

coverage.

Researchers analyzed the records of more than 287,000 Medicare enrollees in

eight states and found that 16 percent of them entered the doughnut hole.

Nearly

3 percent entered the gap very early -- within the first 180 days of the

year. Of the enrollees who entered the gap, only 7 percent eventually

qualified

for catastrophic coverage.

Along with women and patients with dementia and diabetes, patients most

likely to fall into the doughnut hole included those with end-stage renal

disease,

coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mental

health conditions and congestive heart failure.

These groups should be counseled by doctors on how best to manage medication

costs through either drug substitution or discontinuation of certain

nonessential

medications, study lead author Ettner, professor of medicine in the

division of general internal medicine and health services research at the

Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, said in a

news release.

" This is important so that more essential medication is not discontinued,

with adverse effects on patients' health due to cost reasons only. These

patients

need to continue adhering to their medication regimen, " Ettner said in a

news release.