Top Five Therapeutic Classes of Outpatient Prescription Drugs Ranked by Total Expense for the Medicare Population Age 65 and Older in the U.S. Civilian Noninstitutionalized Population, 2005. Statistical Brief No. 199

摘要

This Statistical Brief provides a summary of the top five therapeutic classes of outpatient prescription drugs when ranked by total expense for Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older, as reported by households in the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population in calendar year 2005. The brief also provides estimates for the Medicare population age 65 and older on the percentage of annual prescribed drug expenses the top five therapeutic classes represented, the percentage of those with a prescribed drug expense having an expense in these classes of drugs, and the mean expense in these classes of drugs. The estimates in this brief are derived from the Household Component of the 2005 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC). Only prescribed medicines purchases in an outpatient setting are included in the estimates. Insulin and diabetic supplies and equipment are included in MEPS prescribed medicines estimates. Over-the-counter medicines are excluded from these estimates, as are prescription medicines administered in an inpatient setting, clinic, or physicians office. All differences discussed in the text are statistically significant at the 0.05 level.