Thesis
Medicare drug plan formulary response to the patent expiration of atypical antipsychotics in the State of Washington for fiscal year 2010
Washington State University
Master of Health Policy and Administration (MHPA), Washington State University
2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103083
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of new generic atypical antipsychotics on Medicare drug plan formularies in the State of Washington. BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that places a tremendous burden on patients, family members, and society. The introduction of atypical antipsychotics gave a new hope to those being treated for schizophrenia. Risperidone (Risperdal), an effective atypical antipsychotic, lost its patent protection and market exclusivity in June 2008. In October 2008, a number of generic drug manufacturing companies brought new generic versions of risperidone in the market. The generic version of clozapine is also available in the market but it is rarely used due to its risk profile. Medicare is the largest third-party payer for antipsychotic drugs. Medicare Prescription Drug plans are required to cover all antipsychotics. However, they are allowed to design their own policies regarding cost sharing. METHODS: The study assesses Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPs) and Prescription Drug Plan (PDPs) plans in Washington using representative zip codes and the online Prescription Drug Plan Finder tool on the Medicare Website. HYPOTHESIS: It is hypothesized that in 2010, MAPs and PDPs will have lower rates of cost-sharing and lesser use of pharmacy management tools for generic risperidone and clozapine compared to patent protected atypical antipsychotics; Risperidone (Risperdal), Clozapine (Clozaril), Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Paliperidone (Invega). RESULTS: The branded antipsychotics have consistently higher cost sharing. A significant number of plans have dropped the branded preparations from their formularies. Pharmacy management tools are often employed to encourage use of the generic versions. CONCLUSION: Medicare Plans have lower costs and fewer restrictions on newly designated generic medications, relative to patent protected medications.
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Details
- Title
- Medicare drug plan formulary response to the patent expiration of atypical antipsychotics in the State of Washington for fiscal year 2010
- Creators
- Chaitanya Chandratre
- Contributors
- Jae Kennedy (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Health Policy and Administration, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Health Policy and Administration (MHPA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900524862201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis