Oral

In this session, new information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be presented on prescription drug usage in the Medicare population. Since the start of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit in 2006, there have been few studies that have examined the relationship between this relatively new drug benefit and the health of Medicare beneficiaries. Results of new analyses showing the relationship of drug use among Part D enrolled beneficiaries and cost and health related outcomes will be discussed. Specifically, this session will include a discussion of findings from an analysis of Medicare Part D beneficiaries at risk for hip fractures and the relationship of bisphosphonate use on risk of hip fracture, including a time to event analysis. Also, results will be presented from a study of drug cost and use patterns of beta-adrenergic blocking agents (beta-blockers) in Medicare Part D beneficiaries with congestive heart failure, including a discussion of the relationship of adherence to beta-blockers in this population on health outcomes, including hospitalizations and emergency room use. Lastly, with the recent interest in examining drug use in the dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid enrollees, this session provides descriptive findings for drug utilization and cost in this population as well as the Medicare only enrollees using linked administrative drug claims data from both Medicare and Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX). Analyses presented in this session offer a number of unique features. All three studies were conducted using multiple data types from Medicare and in the case of the dually eligibles, MAX files, as well. Chronic condition indicator variables that are specific to the Chronic Condition Warehouse data were used to identify conditions of interest for cohort selection and/or outcome ascertainment. In addition, ascertainment of drug use from both Part B and D was illustrated using bisphosphonates as an example.

Session Objectives: Determine whether use of bisphosphonates reduces the risk of hip fracture in the aged female Medicare population. Examine the relationship of adherence to beta-adrenergic blocking agents (beta-blockers) the Medicare Part D population on health outcomes, including hospitalizations and emergency room use. Identify Medicare and Medicaid drug utilization for Part D enrolled Medicare beneficiaries.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)