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Study: Brand-Name Drugs Drive Medicare Costs
Connecticut seniors on Medicare are more likely to take sedatives for insomnia and medications for depression than their counterparts across the country, according to a new report by Dartmouth researchers.
Connecticut seniors on Medicare are more likely to take sedatives for insomnia and medications for depression than their counterparts across the country, according to a new report by Dartmouth researchers.
An analysis of state data in a national report by the Dartmouth Atlas Project shows that Connecticut's Medicare program relies heavily on brand-name drugs, versus generics, especially in wealthy towns in Fairfield County -- a factor that could be contributing to the state's ranking in the top 10 nationally in prescription drug spending per patient.
Connecticut seniors spent an average of $2,795 on medications in 2010 -- 45 percent higher than the lowest-spending state, Minnesota, and the highest rate in New England.
The new report provides an in-depth look at how prescription drugs are used by Medicare beneficiaries, ages 65 and older, in the program's Part D drug benefit, which had 37 million enrollees in 2012. It shows wide variations in the use of both effective and risky drugs among the 306 regional health care markets across the U.S.
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Source: News Times
Hospital Participation in Medicare ACOs: No Change in Admission Practices and Spending
August 19th 2025Hospital accountable care organization (ACO) participation did not impact emergency department admission rates, length of stay, or costs, suggesting limited effectiveness in reducing spending for unplanned admissions and challenging hospital-led ACO cost-saving strategies.
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Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach
May 29th 2025Lindsey Leininger, PhD, and Allister Chang, MPA, highlight the potential of laundromats as accessible, community-based settings to support Medicaid outreach, foster trust, and connect families with essential health and social services.
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Care Quality Metrics in Medicare During COVID-19 Pandemic
August 12th 2025Medicare Advantage outperformed traditional Medicare on clinical quality measures before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; mid-pandemic, however, traditional Medicare narrowed the gap on some in-person screenings.
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