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Biologics in Perspective: The Case for Generic Biologic Drugs
Biologics are quickly becoming a common treatment option. Many of the new indications are for conditions that primarily affect older populations, such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. However, given the substantial out-of-pocket costs that can be associated with using biologic drugs, many patients will face impeded access until generic biologic drugs become available.
Health Action Now
HealthActionNow.org is an effort by AARP to urge Congress and the Obama Administration to work together to pass meaningful health reform - now!
With the rising cost of medical care taking a toll on millions of Americans already struggling in this economic crisis, the reality is that we cannot truly fix our economy until we fix health care. Click here to learn more about why we need Health Action Now.
Prescription Drugs
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Strategies to Increase Generic Drug Utilization and Associated Savings
Many health insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and public health programs, noting the apparent safety and savings associated with generic drugs, are adopting strategies to encourage their use. This PPI report describes these techniques and reviews the evidence of their effectiveness. (17 pages)
December 4, 2008
By: Leigh Purvis, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Doors to Extra Help: Boosting Enrollment in the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy
The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 established the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program to reduce the financial burden on low-income Medicare beneficiaries paying out-of-pocket costs for prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D. This AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper, by Debra J. Lipson, Allison Barrett, Angela Merrill, and Noelle Denny-Brown of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., examines factors that influence the ease or difficulty of applying for LIS and Medicare Savings Programs which are designed to help low-income Medicare beneficiaries afford Medicare premiums and potentially other cost sharing obligations. (45 pages)
September 30, 2007
By: Debra J. Lipson, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.; Allison Barrett, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.; Angela Merrill, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.; Noelle Denny-Brown, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Trends in Manufacturer Prices of Prescription Drugs Used by Older Americans
Changes in manufacturer's prices for the prescription drugs most widely used by Americans age 50+ are investigated in this series of AARP Public Policy Institute (PPI) reports by David J. Gross and Leigh Gross of PPI and Stephen W. Schondelmeyer of the PRIME Institute of the University of Minnesota.
March 6, 2007
By: David Gross, AARP Public Policy Institute; Leigh Purvis, AARP Public Policy Institute; Stephen W. Schondelmeyer, PRIME Institute of the University of Minnesota | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; PRIME Institute of the University of Minnesota
Parallel Trading in Medicines: Europe's Experience and Its Implications for Commercial Drug Importation in the United States
The European Union’s experience with commercial importation by licensed wholesalers of prescription drugs is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Panos Kanavos of the London School of Economics, David Gross of PPI, and David Taylor of the University of London’s School of Pharmacy. (43 pages)
June 21, 2005
By: Panos Kanavos, London School of Economics, The University of London; David Gross, AARP Public Policy Institute; David Taylor, The School of Pharmacy, The University of London | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; London School of Economics, The University of London; The School of Pharmacy, The University of London
Prescription Drug Affordability: Importation and Safety
Remarks by AARP CEO William Novelli at the "Prescription Drug Importation: Can it Help America's Seniors?" forum on June 22, 2005.
June 23, 2005
Prescription Drug Importation: Can it Help America's Seniors?
AARP Global Aging Program hosts a symposium in Washington, DC focusing on the impact of imported drugs on costs in the US and the safety of our pharmaceutical system.
June 22, 2005
FYI: Estimates of Financial Burden of Prescription Drugs on Beneficiaries in Medicare Fee-for-Service
This AARP Public Policy Institute FYI by David Gross, Craig Caplan and Mary Jo Gibson presents estimates of the extent to which Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries are burdened with out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses. (2 pages)
September 1, 1998
By: David Gross, AARP Public Policy Institute; Craig Caplan, AARP Public Policy Institute; Mary Jo Gibson, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: Potential Impact on Beneficiaries
Under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, Medicare will offer prescription drug coverage to beneficiaries who choose to enroll in the Part D benefit, beginning in 2006. The potential impact of this benefit overall--and with respect to specific categories of beneficiaries--is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Jack Rodgers and John Stell of Health Policy Economics at PricewaterhouseCoopers. (40 pages)
November 1, 2004
By: John Stell, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Jack Rodgers, PricewaterhouseCoopers | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; PricewaterhouseCoopers
Medicare Drug Discount Card Program: How Much Does Card Choice Affect Price Paid?
How prices for 227 individual drugs and several drug combinations vary among 33 national Medicare-approved discount cards, how prices vary among pharmacies under each card, how retail pharmacy prices compare to mail order prices, and whether some cards consistently offer lower prices than other cards are examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Issue Paper by Keith Lind. (46 pages)
November 1, 2004
By: Keith Lind, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Prescription Drug Spending and Coverage Among Rural Medicare Beneficiaries in 2003
Projected out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs by age 65+ Medicare beneficiaries living in rural areas in 2003 is examined in this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest by Craig Caplan and Normandy Brangan, which also highlights differences in income and prescription drug coverage among rural and urban beneficiaries. (5 pages)
November 1, 2004
By: Normandy Brangan, AARP Public Policy Institute; Craig Caplan, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Solutions Forums
Saving Jobs in A Recession: How Work Sharing Can Help
Seventeen states have programs that use unemployment funds to keep workers on the job with reduced hours. Learn how federal and state policy can better promote these work-sharing programs--and how several European nations have implemented work-sharing.
The Auto IRA: Strategies for Successful Implementation
Experts from the US and abroad discussed how an Auto-IRA can improve retirement security; lessons from similar programs in New Zealand and the UK; and how the Auto-IRA can work well for workers, small business and the financial industry.
Protecting Your Home, Car and Investment Savings: How to Stop Financial Fraud
How fraud impacts financial security, especially for older Americans—and discussion of policy options for combating mortgage, auto sales and investment scams. Luncheon speaker SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro discussed the Commission’s priorities on financial fraud.
Getting it Right: Smart Housing and Transportation Planning for Livable Communities
This forum featured release of new research on preserving subsidized housing near transit and discussion of how to coordinate housing, transportation and land use policy to develop livable communities.
What Happened to My Social Security COLA?
Why no COLA is expected for 2010 and how this affects individuals and the states. Panelists include experts from the Social Security Administration, AARP, the National Governors Association and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
A New Look at Making Financial Decisions for Retirement
PPI released a series of new reports offering a fresh look at financial decisions related to retirement. Experts examined why many people make poor choices and explore how to improve the options available to retirees.
Fixing Chronic Care in America
National experts discussed problems facing millions of Americans with multiple chronic conditions, and explored potential solutions highlighted in a new PPI publication, Chronic Care: a Call to Action for Health Reform and in a new video Faces of Chronic Care.
AARP Public Policies
Learn about the policy development process at AARP. For a complete guide to AARP's positions on public issues, see The Policy Book, AARP Public Policies 2009-2010.
Center to Champion Nursing in America
The Center to Champion Nursing in America seeks to ensure Americans have the highly skilled nurses we need to provide affordable, quality health care. The Center serves as a consumer-driven, national force to increase the nation’s capacity to educate and retain nurses.
