Journal article
Does prescription drug coverage improve mental health? Evidence from Medicare Part D
Journal of health economics, Vol.41, pp.46-58
05/2015
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.01.006
PMID: 25666229
Abstract
The introduction of the Medicare Prescription Drug program (Part D) in 2006 resulted in a significant increase in access to coverage for older adults in the U.S. Several studies have documented the impact of this program on prescription drug utilization, expenditures and medication adherence among older adults. However, few studies have evaluated the extent to which these changes have affected the health of seniors. In this study we use data from the Health and Retirement Study to identify the impact of the Medicare Part D program on mental health. Using a difference-in-difference approach, we find that the program significantly reduced depressive symptoms among older adults. We explore the mechanisms through which this effect operates and evaluate heterogeneity in impact.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Does prescription drug coverage improve mental health? Evidence from Medicare Part D
- Creators
- Padmaja Ayyagari - Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, 145 North Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States. Electronic address: padmaja-ayyagari@uiowa.eduDan M Shane - Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, 145 North Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, United States. Electronic address: dan-shane@uiowa.edu
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of health economics, Vol.41, pp.46-58
- Publisher
- Netherlands
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.01.006
- PMID
- 25666229
- ISSN
- 0167-6296
- eISSN
- 1879-1646
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/2015
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy; Economics; Public Policy Center (Archive)
- Record Identifier
- 9984064196002771
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