Seniors Access To Affordable Prescription Drugs Models For Reform

Witnesses: Lisa Marie Alecxih, V.P., The Lewin Group; Beatrice Braun, Member, Bd. of Dir., AARP; Rita Lewis, Dir., Osteoporosis Support Group of San Diego, CA; Carol McCall, Executive V.P., Managed Care, Allscripts; Donald Moran, Pres., The Moran Co.; William Scanlon, Director, Health Financing & Public Health Issues, GAO; Bruce Vladeck, Dir., Inst. for Medicare Practice, Mount Sinai School of Med., & Senior V.P. for Policy, Mount Sinai NYU Health; Bonnie Washington, Dir., Office of Legislation, Health Care Financing Admin., accompanied by Jack Hoadley, Dir., Div. of Health Financing Policy; & Donald Young, COO & Med. Dir., Health Ins. Assoc. of Amer.

On October 25,1999, the President directed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study prescription drug costs and trends for Medicare beneficiaries. He asked that the study investigate: price differences for the most commonly used drugs for people with and without coverage; drug spending by people of various ages, as a percentage of income and of total health spending; and trends in drug expenditures by people of different ages, as a percentage of income and of total health spending. This report is the Department's response to that request. It represents the work of individuals and agencies throughout the Department, including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).