medicare Archives
New study illustrates how much it would cost for cancer drugs covered under Medicare Part D
May. 10, 2022—A new study by Vanderbilt researchers highlights how some older Americans diagnosed with cancer can face unlimited out-of-pocket spending for prescription drugs under the current structure of the Medicare Part D benefit.
Medicare beneficiaries without low-income subsidies were less likely to fill important prescriptions, new study finds
Apr. 4, 2022—Vanderbilt research shows that Medicare Part D beneficiaries who did not receive federal subsidies to lower their out-of-pocket costs were nearly twice as likely as others to not fill prescriptions for serious health conditions like cancer or hepatitis C treatment.
Study examines long-term benefit of Two-Midnight Rule
Nov. 4, 2021—Vanderbilt research is raising new questions about the long-term benefit and value of the so-called Medicare “Two-Midnight Rule” implemented in 2013 to reduce costly and potentially unnecessary inpatient hospital admissions
Dusetzina appointed to federal Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
Jun. 2, 2021—Stacie Dusetzina, PhD, associate professor of Health Policy and Ingram Associate Professor of Cancer Research at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, has been appointed to a three-year term on the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).
Chemo for cancer lowers dementia risk
Mar. 22, 2021—Cancer chemotherapy lowered risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurocognitive disorders that disproportionately affect older people.
Study finds Medicare Part D favors generic drugs over brand-name counterparts
Aug. 6, 2020—Contrary to previous media reports, a new study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers finds that Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance plans largely favor generic drugs over brand-name counterparts.
Rheumatoid arthritis patients on Medicare seeing increased out-of-pocket costs for specialty medications
May. 7, 2020—After a sharp drop in out-of-pocket costs between 2010 and 2011, Medicare patients who use specialty biologic medications for rheumatoid arthritis have seen higher out-of-pocket spending for those same drugs because of gradual price increases, a new study finds.
Effort ensures eligible Medicare patients receive their annual wellness visit
Jan. 29, 2020—When it was determined that a majority of the 19,000 individuals eligible to receive a no-cost annual wellness visit as part of their Medicare coverage had not yet scheduled one, a large task force was assembled at VUMC to contact these patients and schedule their visits
Lecture explores Medicare for All’s potential impacts
Nov. 21, 2019—The concept of a single-payer, government-run health care program — Medicare for All — has sparked national debate, and that proposal was the focus of a spirited discussion on Nov. 19 at the Research into Policy and Practice Lecture sponsored by the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Study finds cardiac rehab underused among Medicare patients
Nov. 21, 2019—Cardiac valve surgery patients who participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program have a 34% lower risk of hospitalizations and a 4.2% lower risk of mortality than patients who do not enroll in cardiac rehab in the year after surgery.
Study shows some generics can cost Medicare recipients more than brand-name drugs
Jul. 1, 2019—Medicare Part D enrollees may pay more out of pocket for high-priced specialty generic drugs than their brand-name counterparts, according to new research by health policy experts at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Vanderbilt study explores how dual-eligible beneficiaries spend
Aug. 16, 2018—While there has been much effort to control spending for individuals eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare in the United States, for the first time a team of Vanderbilt health policy researchers have analyzed spending trends for this population over a multiyear period in order to gain a much clearer understanding of exactly how much is being spent and by whom.
