Ensuring Access to Affordable Drug Coverage in Medicare

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Abstract

The long-awaited outpatient prescription drug benefit in Medicare begins January 2006. Despite its importance, the drug benefit is controversial. Instead of paying directly for prescriptions, the program will operate through competing private plans. Although it is too early to assess the full impact of Part D on beneficiaries, health plans and providers, employers, and taxpayers, we can discuss the major tradeoffs that will determine the success of the program. Key issues include whether market-based approaches will be more effective than direct government intervention in limiting spending; how will beneficiaries, drug plans, employers, and States adapt to the new program; and the balance between cost containment and access to innovative pharmaceuticals.

Joseph Antos is the Wilson H. Taylor Scholar in Health Care and Retirement Policy at AEI.

About the Author

 

Joseph
Antos

  • Mr. Antos's research focuses on the economics of health policy—including Medicare and broader health system reform, health care financing, health insurance regulation, and the uninsured—and federal budget policy. He has written and spoken extensively on the Medicare drug benefit and has led a team of experienced independent actuaries and cost estimators in a study to evaluate various proposals to extend health coverage to the uninsured. His work on the country’s budget crisis includes a detailed plan to achieve fiscal stability and economic growth developed in conjunction with AEI colleagues.  


    Joseph Antos is also a commissioner of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and a health adviser to the Congressional Budget Office.  Before joining AEI, Mr. Antos was Assistant Director for Health and Human Resources at the Congressional Budget Office.




    Watch Mr. Antos in an interview with Bill Erwin of the Alliance for Health Reform on "Will Health Reform Reduce the Federal Deficit?"

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    Email: jantos@aei.org
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