Prescription Drugs

This paper, by John F. Hoadley, Ph.D., of the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, examines how formulary designs and other cost-management tools may affect Medicare beneficiaries’ access to medications through their Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. It is one in a series commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation…

In August 2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a proposed rule to implement the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Title I of the Medicare Modernization Act). Given the high level of interest in the proposed rules for implementing the Medicare drug benefit, the Kaiser Family Foundation commissioned Health…

This survey captures the public’s attitudes regarding the health care agenda for Bush’s second term and the new Congress in 2005. It assesses the relative priority placed on health-care concerns by the American public and also provides insight into public opinion on key issues likely to face the new Congress,…

National Survey on Consumers’ Experiences With Patient Safety and Quality Information — ToplinesThis document includes the complete toplines from a national survey assessing Americans’ perceptions about the quality of health care, their awareness and reported usage of information in making their health care choices, and their experiences with their health…

This survey documents the increasing costs of retiree benefits for both large private-sector employers and their retirees. It also provides an early look at the response of large employers to the Medicare prescription drug law and the subsidies it provides for maintaining retiree drug coverage. Download Full Report (.pdf) Chartpack (.pdf)

The most recent Kaiser Health Poll Report found that Americans believe prescription drugs are improving their lives, but most also say that the drug industry cares more about profits than people. The current report analyzes the new data as well as related polling information from earlier surveys by the Kaiser…

Employer Health Benefits 2003 Annual SurveyView All Charts for This Section Monthly Premium Costs of Single and Family CoverageIn 2003, average monthly premiums for single and family coverage (including worker and employer share of premium) are $282 and $756 respectively (Exhibit 1.12). The cost of family coverage is now nearly…

State Financing of the Medicare Drug Benefit: New Data on the “Clawback”Beginning in 2006, states will be obligated to finance part of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit via a monthly “clawback” payment to the federal government. This issue update analyzes the latest data and provides an overview of the…

This issue brief describes Medicare drug benefit policy issues for residents of nursing homes and other long-term care settings, such as assisted living facilities and board and care facilities. The brief addresses differing rules for nursing home and non-nursing home settings, as well as for dual eligibles residing in long-term…

Findings from the Kaiser/Hewitt 2005 Survey on Retiree Health BenefitsThe 2005 Kaiser/Hewitt survey of large businesses that provide retiree health benefits to their workers assesses their responses to the new Medicare drug benefit in 2006, their plans for the future, and the way these changes affect retirees. It also looks…