Experience with Medicare's Part D prescription drug benefit is assessed in an article authored by Kaiser Family Foundation researchers and published in the July 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The article reviews the evidence to date about Part D to assess how well the program is working for the nearly 27 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in these plans. It examines the effects of Part D on drug coverage, access to medications, out-of-pocket spending, cost-related noncompliance, and Medicare spending overall—identifying strengths, shortcomings, and potential areas for improvement. The authors suggest that policymakers consider taking steps to improve coverage, simplify plan choices, shrink or eliminate the coverage gap, improve coverage for low-income beneficiaries, and reduce drug prices.
