On Higher Prescription Drug Cost-Sharing and Mortality?

Raises Mortality among Medicare PART D Beneficiaries

QUERY: What are the health consequences when patients reduce their use of prescribed medications in response to higher out-of-pocket costs?

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In The Health Costs of Cost-Sharing (NBER Working Paper 28439), researchers Amitabh Chandra, Evan Flack and Ziad Obermeyer use the distinctive out-of-pocket cost-sharing features of Medicare Part D to demonstrate that such reductions can increase mortality.

ASSESSMENT: Your thoughts are appreciated.

THANK YOU

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