Insurance

A new study published online today in The American Journal of Managed Care found that in Medicare Part D, generic drug coverage was cost-saving compared to no coverage in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, while also improving health outcomes. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Pitt Graduate School of Public Health, and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC note that policymakers and insurers should consider generic-only coverage, rather than no gap coverage, to both conserve healthcare resources and improve health.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor therapy reduces hospitalizations and improves chemotherapy administration in elderly breast cancer patients, but increases overall Medicare costs during first year of therapy.

In Medicare Part D, generic drug coverage was cost saving compared with no coverage in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia while improving health outcomes.

The budget package that Congress passed in the 11th hour Tuesday to avert widespread tax increases and spending cuts has also blocked a 26.5% cut in Medicare payments to doctors; however, hospitals are bearing a large portion of the responsibility when it comes to financing this so-called doc fix.