Did anyone see this article in the New York Times?
"Officers See More Sick and Elderly Selling Prescription Drugs"
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/us/19bcdealers.html?ref=sanfranciscobayarea
We touched in class on the incredible benefits that closing the Medicare doughnut hole will have for elderly beneficiaries who previously couldn't afford their prescription drugs. But as with any good thing, there are bound to be a couple of downsides - such as possibly increasing access to drugs for resale.
In my mind, this points to the intersection between pharmaceutical coverage and nationwide illegal drug policy issues, something I haven't yet heard many health policy folks talking about. (Except for those awful commercials telling parents their kids might be getting high from the medicine cabinet...) The other intersection is of course with the impact of the recession on older adults, although the article makes it seem that addiction is as much of the story as poverty. Thoughts?
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3 comments:
Hi Alison,
Thanks for posting this. This is a definitely an issue that doesn't get a lot of attention. I am really interested in what the "community justice" alternative will look like exactly, possibly an IPA? :)
-Dionne
Wow. This is really the first I've heard of this concern come up with regards to Medicare.
Dionne, I'm confused about what you mean about IPAs - can you clarify?
I do question how much the gradual closure of the donut hole would really contribute to this trend.
Yes, closing the donut hole makes drugs more affordable to those with Medicare. Beyond this, I don't know how much more access this creates: Seniors & the disabled still have to get a prescription from a doctor, bill the plan & pay a co-pay. And often the plan has quantity limits (so for example, you can only get one refill per month).
In addition, most people on Medicare never even reach the donut hole (about 2/3).
Alison, I do agree with you that with every "positive" policy change, there is bound to be some negative outcome. Perhaps if Medicare beneficiaries are really going crazy on the drug black market, the policy approach should be more towards regs like quantity limits and or controls at the pharmacy, so that those that really just need affordable medicines are not negatively impacted.
Hi Angela,
Sorry! IPA is the intro to policy analysis project we have to do for GSPP next semester. We are told to be on the look out for possible projects now.
-Dionne
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