Medicare Coverage of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Authors: Allison B. Rosen, A. Mark Fendrick, Sandeep Vijan
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Letters20 December 2005Medicare Coverage of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAllison B. Rosen, MD, MPH, ScD, A. Mark Fendrick, MD, and Sandeep Vijan, MD, MSAllison B. Rosen, MD, MPH, ScDFrom the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, and Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48113.Search for more papers by this author, A. Mark Fendrick, MDFrom the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, and Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48113.Search for more papers by this author, and Sandeep Vijan, MD, MSFrom the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, and Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48113.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-143-12-200512200-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Velakaturi raises an important point: Prices for medications vary depending on the venue where they are purchased. We used a commonly cited metric, the average wholesale price, in our base-case estimates. However, in sensitivity analyses, as prices of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors decrease, overall Medicare savings increase. For example, the Medicare savings of $1606 per beneficiary at the average wholesale price would increase substantially (to $2943 per beneficiary) if these particular drugs were purchased according to the federal supply schedule ($39 per year for lisinopril)—the substantially lower government-negotiated prices for medication that are available to the U.S. Department ...References1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. Washington, DC: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; 2003. Accessed at: www.cms.hhs.gov/medicarereform/ on 6 September 2005. Google Scholar2. USA Today/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health. Health Care Costs Survey, August 2005. Accessed at www.kff.org/newsmedia/pomr090105pkg.cfm on 6 September 2005. Google Scholar3. Fendrick AM, Smith DG, Chernew ME, Shah SN. A benefit-based copay for prescription drugs: patient contribution based on total benefits, not drug acquisition cost. Am J Manag Care. 2001;7:861-7. [PMID: 11570020] MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, and Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48113.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoCost-Effectiveness of Full Medicare Coverage of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors for Beneficiaries with Diabetes Allison B. Rosen , Mary Beth Hamel , Milton C. Weinstein , David M. Cutler , A. Mark Fendrick , and Sandeep Vijan Medicare Coverage of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors Vinod N. Velakaturi Metrics 20 December 2005Volume 143, Issue 12Page: 918KeywordsConflicts of interestDrug pricesDrugsHealth careLegislationMedicare ePublished: 20 December 2005 Issue Published: 20 December 2005 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...