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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Susan Joan Hewitt, MS¹, Deborah Delay, LCSW², and Bruce Cooper, MD, MSPH¹. (1) Assessment, Research and Program Evaluation, Health District of Northern Larimer County, 120 Bristlecone Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524, 970-224-5209, shewitt@healthdistrict.org, (2) Prescription Assistance, Health District of Northern Larimer County, 120 Bristlecone Drive, Fort Collins, CO, CO 80524

Since 1996 the Health District of Northern Larimer County's (Colorado) Prescription Assistance Program has been helping low income residents of the District affordably access medications through a combination of pharmacy vouchers and manufacturers' assistance programs. The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), providing seniors and disabled beneficiaries with a choice of competing drug plans, went into effect January 1, 2006. Starting in 2005 and into 2006, staff of the Health District's Prescription Assistance Program gave individual assistance to Medicare-eligible clients to enroll them in Medicare Drug Plans and the subsidy that was provided to some low-income seniors.

As Medicare Part D was implemented, issues and concerns quickly surfaced. The Health District conducted an evaluation to determine the impact that transitioning from a community-run program to the Medicare Drug Plans had on low-income seniors' ability to access and afford medications. This evaluation was utilized to guide changes to the Prescription Assistance Program protocols and to share findings with policy-makers.

This session will describe the mixed methodology that combined qualitative interviews with Prescription Assistance clients and a pre to post quantitative estimation in changes of out of pocket costs as clients transitioned from the Prescription Assistance Program to the Federal Medicare plan. The key findings of this evaluation will be shared, along with examples of how it was used to guide program planning at the community level and inform those involved in policy change in government.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the benefits and detriments of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Plans, as implemented, on the clients of a community provided prescription assistance program.
• Learn what changes to the Medicare Part D Program were recommended.
• Recognize the value and utilization of a mixed-method evaluation in informing programming and policy decisions.

Keywords: Prescription Drug Use Patterns, Medicare/Medicaid

Related Web page: www.healthdistrict.org/services/prescription.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered