Young, uninsured stroke survivors or those covered by the Medicare Part D drug benefit often can’t afford medications — increasing the risk for future strokes or other cardiovascular disease-related events, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2011.
Researchers evaluated whether cost-related non-adherence to medication was a problem for stroke survivors even after the 2006 implementation of Medicare Part D, a federal government drug benefit that offers prescription drug coverage to all Medicare participants.
“Federal programs to reduce cost-related non-adherence to medication may not be working as intended, and a resulting large number of stroke survivors are at risk for subsequent stroke events,” said Deborah A. Levine, M.D., M.P.H., the study’s lead author and an assistant professor in general medicine and neurology at the University of Michigan Health System.
Young, uninsured stroke survivors or those covered by the Medicare Part D drug benefit often can’t afford medications — increasing the risk for future strokes or other cardiovascular disease-related events, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2011.
Researchers evaluated whether cost-related non-adherence to medication was a problem for stroke survivors even after the 2006 implementation of Medicare Part D, a federal government drug benefit that offers prescription drug coverage to all Medicare participants.
“Federal programs to reduce cost-related non-adherence to medication may not be working as intended, and a resulting large number of stroke survivors are at risk for subsequent stroke events,” said Deborah A. Levine, M.D., M.P.H., the study’s lead author and an assistant professor in general medicine and neurology at the University of Michigan Health System.