When Medicare Part D beneficiaries have access to the medicines they need and take them as prescribed, both the individual and the broader health care system benefit in the form of better health and lower costs. This is especially true when looking at heart disease and stroke.
Medicare Monday: More medicines in development for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases
When Medicare Part D beneficiaries have access to the medicines they need and take them as prescribed, both the individual and the broader health care system benefit in the form of better health and lower costs. This is especially true when looking at heart disease and stroke.
Access to medicines through Medicare Part D coverage plays a key role in treating heart disease and stroke. For example, a recent study found that improved medication adherence following expansion of Medicare Part D led to nearly $2.3 billion in savings in annual Medicare expenditures among beneficiaries with congestive heart failure. Additionally, cardiovascular-related mortality rates dropped by 15 percent after Medicare Part D was implemented.
But Americans of all ages, including Medicare beneficiaries, still need new medicines to help them live longer, healthier lives. According to a new report from PhRMA and the Association of Black Cardiologists, there are 190 medicines for heart disease and stroke that are either in clinical trials or awaiting review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This is great news for the 6.6 million adults affected by stroke and the more than 85 million Americans living with some type of heart disease. As these new medicines become available, programs like Medicare Part D are critical to helping patients access affordable prescription drug coverage.
For more information, read the full Medicines in Development report and previous Medicare Monday posts.
