Navigation Links
Avalere Health Data Finds Four-Tier System Growing Among Medicare Part D Plans
Date:4/15/2008

WASHINGTON, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Avalere Health today reminded consumers to pay close attention to all aspects of their Medicare prescription drug plan, including on which "tier" or group their medications are covered. Avalere data released from its proprietary DataFrame(R) database show that an overwhelming majority of Medicare health plans are now using a system that places some of the most expensive drugs in newly created fourth and fifth tiers. Drugs in the higher tiers can cost consumers significantly more money than a three tier, fixed co-payment system.

Consumers traditionally pay fixed amounts, or co-pays, when purchasing prescription drugs, and these co-pays are typically lumped into three groups: generics, preferred brands, and non-preferred brands. However, Medicare Part D drug plans have revolutionized the shape of the market by placing more expensive drugs into additional tiers. According to Avalere, 86% of all Medicare Part D plans use four (and sometimes five) tier plan structures, versus only 10% of commercial health plans.

"Health plans are trying to balance competing demands of access to medications and low cost, but the result is that patients with serious illnesses are paying more," said Dan Mendelson, president of Avalere Health. "It's a trend that's starting to push into the commercial world too."

Using its proprietary DataFrame database, which houses information about every Medicare drug plans' drug coverage and associated benefits, found that on average, Medicare Part D beneficiaries pay 25 percent to 35 percent of the cost of Tier 4 drugs compared with commercial plan beneficiaries who pay a fixed fee of about $71. Specialty drugs found in Tier 4 formularies can cost in excess of $600 per month.

"People with cancer, multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, rheumatoid arthritis, and anemia should be paying very close attention to tiering in Medicare," said Mendelson.

Other facts released by Avalere
'/>"/>

SOURCE Avalere Health
Copyright©2008 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. Avalere Study Shows Medicare Part D Helping People with Type 2 Diabetes; Warns People with Diabetes of Probability of Reaching the Donut Hole
2. Texas Health Care Association: New Report on Long Term Care Workforce Spotlights Need to Boost Texas Medicaid Rates
3. Lake Hospital System Selected as Pilot Site for Health Information Literacy Research Project
4. New Health Care Company to Offer Training and CMEs on Physician - Patient Communications and Helps Fulfill ACGME Requirements
5. Top Policy Experts to Debate Link Between Rising Health Care Costs and Advances in Medical Technology, Wednesday, April 16, 2008, From 8:30 - 10:00 A.M., at DCs National Press Club
6. Health Monitoring Systems Releases EpiCenter(TM)
7. Gentiva(R) Health Services Schedules First Quarter Earnings Call and Web Cast for Thursday, May 1, 2008
8. At Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders - Neurochem to officially adopt new name - BELLUS Health - And to provide update on programs including first new natural health product, VIVIMIND(TM)
9. Figure Skater Peggy Fleming Teams With HealthSaver: Allergies and Asthma Relief
10. Healthy Diabetic Bakery Products Launched Nationally
11. PA Department of Health Warns Consumers About Adverse Reactions From Dietary Supplements
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:2/9/2010)... research group of Dr. Franois Robert, a researcher at ... collaboration with the team of Dr. Daniel Durocher (Samuel ... technical breakthrough: they mapped all the fragile sites of ... . The method used by the researchers can be ... today in the scientific journal Nature Structural and ...
(Date:2/9/2010)... launched the nation,s first comprehensive research and training ... FBI has called "the crime of the 21st ... to food additives to auto parts- accounts for ... and has a major impact on health and ... Terrorist and other organized crime groups use proceeds ...
(Date:2/9/2010)... may be more effective in persuading young women to ... same issue, according to a new study. , Researchers ... about a teen pregnancy felt more vulnerable two weeks ... support for using birth control. , However, those who ... teen pregnancies were unmoved, and had no change in ...
(Date:2/9/2010)... Rockville, MD -- The first results from a ... Sub-Saharan African countries reveal that a high percentage ... substandard quality and thus may contribute to the ... , the most virulent form of malaria. The ... of Medicines (PQM) Program, a USAID-funded program implemented ...
(Date:2/9/2010)... YORK , Feb. 9 The ... Glover Blackwell : ,, "Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic ... Michelle Obama demonstrated today. ,, "As ... attend schools loaded with chips and soda -- and ... children, however, that bleak food landscape extends far beyond ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Researchers map all the fragile sites of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae's genome 2Health News:Researchers map all the fragile sites of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae's genome 3Health News:MSU launches first anti-counterfeiting research program 2Health News:MSU launches first anti-counterfeiting research program 3Health News:TV drama can be more persuasive than news program, study finds 2Health News:TV drama can be more persuasive than news program, study finds 3Health News:TV drama can be more persuasive than news program, study finds 4Health News:One-third of antimalarial medicines sampled in 3 African nations found to be substandard 2Health News:One-third of antimalarial medicines sampled in 3 African nations found to be substandard 3
... May 13 The rate of childhood,obesity in ... in Florida,32.5 percent of children ages 10 to ... and widespread threat of the obesity epidemic for,children, ... Blue,Foundation for a Healthy Florida ( http://www.bluefoundationfl.com ), ...
... Book Features Tips and Tricks for Hungry Chicks Including ... Guilt-Free Recipes and Survival Guides, ... tasty ways to rethink fiber. Lillien,s new book HUNGRY GIRL:,Recipes ... Martin,s Press, $17.95, April 29, 2008) showcases recipes for,low-calorie versions ...
... professional competitions airing ... nationally on ESPN2 and ESPNU, COLUMBUS, Ga., May 13 ... title sponsor of the Aflac Outdoor Games.,The inaugural three-day event is ... Complex in Columbus, GA. Aflac Outdoor Games will,include a variety of ...
... prescriptions for $10 and Increases the Number of Women,s ... Health Medications Offered at a Discount, ... KR ) in-store pharmacies will expand their generic drug,program ... their health needs. The retailer is offering 90-day prescriptions for,only ...
... specific gene to increase expression of a key enzyme, ... and injuries that can lead to cancer, University of ... have suggested the beneficial properties of vitamin D, said ... Center who led the research. Our findings reflect what ...
... Ga. A University of Georgia study that is the ... molesters finds that many of them were themselves victims of ... April issue of the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, has the ... treatment for offenders and their young victims. , This ...
Other Medicine News:Health News:The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida Announces $8 Million Initiative to Address Childhood Obesity 2Health News:Hungry Girl and Fiber One(R) Team Up to Offer Delicious Ways to Get Your Fiber Fix 2Health News:Aflac Announces Title Sponsorship of Outdoor Games 2Health News:Aflac Announces Title Sponsorship of Outdoor Games 3Health News:Kroger and Its Family of Stores Expand Discounted Generic Drug Program 2Health News:Kroger and Its Family of Stores Expand Discounted Generic Drug Program 3Health News:Vitamin D protects cells from stress that can lead to cancer 2Health News:Study: Most female child molesters were victims of sexual abuse 2
(Date:2/8/2010)... Feb. 8 Transgenomic, Inc. ... has completed a preliminary study with a leading ... licensed COLD-PCR technology to detect colorectal tumor-associated KRAS ... These were detected in plasma samples in which ... by standard DNA analysis methodologies such as Sanger ...
(Date:2/8/2010)... Feb. 8 Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., ... that it has received FDA approval of labetalol ... severe hypertension.  The product will be available in ... mL and 200 mg per 40 mL, multi-dose ... than 70 million Americans have hypertension, or high ...
(Date:2/8/2010)... Feb. 8 Connectyx Technologies ... an advertising contract with SkyMall Inc. SkyMall produces ... in major airlines seat pockets. SkyMall has an ... advertisement featuring the MedFlash ® Personal Health ... table of contents in the front section of ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Transgenomic Demonstrates Very High Sensitivity Detection of Tumor-Associated KRAS Mutations in Matched Plasma Samples Using COLD-PCR 2Transgenomic Demonstrates Very High Sensitivity Detection of Tumor-Associated KRAS Mutations in Matched Plasma Samples Using COLD-PCR 3Transgenomic Demonstrates Very High Sensitivity Detection of Tumor-Associated KRAS Mutations in Matched Plasma Samples Using COLD-PCR 4Sagent Pharmaceuticals Announces FDA Approval of Labetalol Hydrochloride Injection, USP 2Sagent Pharmaceuticals Announces FDA Approval of Labetalol Hydrochloride Injection, USP 3Connectyx Announces MedFlash(R) Advertising Contract with SkyMall Inc. 2Connectyx Announces MedFlash(R) Advertising Contract with SkyMall Inc. 3The ALS Association Cares for Those Who Care the Most in New Campaign 60077 1The ALS Association Cares for Those Who Care the Most in New Campaign 60077 2The ALS Association Cares for Those Who Care the Most in New Campaign 60077 3The ALS Association Cares for Those Who Care the Most in New Campaign 60077 4The ALS Association Cares for Those Who Care the Most in New Campaign 60077 5The ALS Association Cares for Those Who Care the Most in New Campaign 60077 6CVS pharmacy Rewards Shoppers For Passing on Plastic Bags 60074 1CVS pharmacy Rewards Shoppers For Passing on Plastic Bags 60074 2CVS pharmacy Rewards Shoppers For Passing on Plastic Bags 60074 3Uruguay 231 for Prosperity in South America 3B Venezuela and Bolivia the Worst in the Region Finds Legatum Prosperity Index 60071 1Uruguay 231 for Prosperity in South America 3B Venezuela and Bolivia the Worst in the Region Finds Legatum Prosperity Index 60071 2Uruguay 231 for Prosperity in South America 3B Venezuela and Bolivia the Worst in the Region Finds Legatum Prosperity Index 60071 3Uruguay 231 for Prosperity in South America 3B Venezuela and Bolivia the Worst in the Region Finds Legatum Prosperity Index 60071 4Uruguay 231 for Prosperity in South America 3B Venezuela and Bolivia the Worst in the Region Finds Legatum Prosperity Index 60071 5Uruguay 231 for Prosperity in South America 3B Venezuela and Bolivia the Worst in the Region Finds Legatum Prosperity Index 60071 6
... fatty acid synthase,inhibitor (FASi) compounds, led by FAS031, ... line tested, in both orthotopic,and flank models: 4 ... two,ovarian; breast; and, colon. In many cases the ... in extensive preclinical studies to,be remarkably safe and ...
... that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ... combination with cisplatin,and 5-fluorouracil for induction therapy ... head and neck (SCCHN) before patients undergo,chemoradiotherapy ... approval on the results of the phase ...
Other Medicine Technology:FASgen Announces Significant Milestone in Its Cancer Drug Development Program 2Taxotere(R) (docetaxel) Granted FDA Approval to Treat Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Prior to Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery 2Taxotere(R) (docetaxel) Granted FDA Approval to Treat Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Prior to Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery 3Taxotere(R) (docetaxel) Granted FDA Approval to Treat Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Prior to Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery 4
The second-generation Dade Behring Acute Care Troponin I (cTnI) method is the first FDA cleared high sensitivity cTnI assay with the low-end precision necessary to meet the ESC/ACC guidelines (CV <10...
... high-throughput immunoassay system built around the many ... the important addition of Logic Driven Incubation ... designed for optimal performance with the fastest ... assays such as the cardiac biomarkers and ...
AxSYM Myoglobin is a Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay (MEIA) for the quantitative determination of myoglobin in human serum or plasma on the AxSYM System....
IRMA kit for detection of the cardiac marker Myoglobin...
Medicine Products: