Examining the impact of Part D on nursing home residents.

Abstract

Key findings. (1) Even though 81 percent of eligible nursing home residents enrolled in Part D within the first year, they demonstrated no evidence of expanded drug coverage. (2) Medicare Part D lowered the out-of-pocket drug costs of nursing home residents by less than the amount in the community setting. (3) Nursing home residents who did not enroll in Part D exhibited characteristics of vulnerability: oldest-old, highest disease burden, and no previous drug coverage. (4) Disruptions in prescription drug use occurred after implementation of Part D.