July 19, 2005Annals of Internal Medicine
Cost-Effectiveness of Full Medicare Coverage of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors for Beneficiaries with Diabetes
Why the study?
Does Medicare first-dollar coverage of ACE inhibitors improve cost-effectiveness and health outcomes in 65-year-old Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes?
Population
65-year-old Medicare beneficiary with diabetes
Comparison
Medicare first-dollar coverage of ACE inhibitors vs Current practice and the new Medicare drug benefit
Design
Other
Follow-up
Lifetime
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Overview
May support first-dollar ACE inhibitor coverage in diabetic Medicare patients; leaves open prospective confirmation before policy change.
Structured PICO
Does Medicare first-dollar coverage of ACE inhibitors improve cost-effectiveness and health outcomes in 65-year-old Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes?
P
Population
65-year-old Medicare beneficiary with diabetes
I
Intervention
Medicare first-dollar coverage (no cost sharing) of ACE inhibitors
C
Comparator
Current practice (no coverage) and the new Medicare drug benefit
O
Outcome
Costs (2003 U.S. dollars), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), life-years, and incremental cost-effectiveness
First-dollar Medicare coverage of ACE inhibitors for diabetic beneficiaries is a dominant strategy that extends life and reduces overall Medicare program costs.
Limitations
- Results depend on accuracy of the underlying data and assumptions
- The effect of more generous drug coverage on medication adherence is uncertain
Cite This Study
Rosen et al. (2005) studied this question.