Prescription drug coverage: An essential service or a fringe benefit?

A Medicare prescription drug benefit: focusing on coverage and cost.

Introduction P harmaceuticals are a critical element of modern medical treatment, yet the traditional Medicare benefits package does not include coverage of outpatient prescription drugs. This omission is significant because the 38.1 million people who comprise the Medicare population are disproportionately likely to use drugs.The elderly represent 14 percent of the U.S. population but account ...

Kaiser Permanente's prescription drug benefit.

Advocating for a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

An Rx for reform: a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Universal prescription drug coverage in Canada

Canada's universal public healthcare system is unique among developed countries insofar as it does not include universal coverage of prescription drugs. Universal, public coverage of prescription drugs has been recommended by major national commissions in Canada dating back to the 1960s. It has not, however, been implemented. In this article, we extend research on the failure of early proposals...