This study examines formularies, drug costs and utilization management tools in drug plans offered by 14 national and near-national organizations. Collectively, these organizations account for 1,222 of the 1,429 packages available to Medicare beneficiaries.

The analysis finds that Medicare’s new, private, stand-alone drug plans vary significantly in terms of covered drugs, out-of-pocket costs for specific medications and restrictions placed on the use of certain drugs.

The study was conducted by Jack Hoadley of Georgetown University, Elizabeth Hargrave of the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, and Juliette Cubanski and Tricia Neuman of the Kaiser Family Foundation.

 News Release

 Report (.pdf)