Monterey, CA Researcher Calls For Eliminating Doughnut Hole, Lowering Cost Of Prescriptions For Seniors

The dreaded doughnut hole, when senior citizens have to pay for prescriptions out of their own pocket, is being slowly phased out each year and will disappear by 2020 thanks to the Affordable Care Act, also known as health care reform.  But many think that this isn't soon enough.  A recent study of seniors which had bipolar disorder or schizophrenia found that they are hospitalized less if they maintain access to their prescriptions when they hit the coverage gap for prescription drugs.  It's no secret that many seniors simply don't pick up their prescriptions once they go into the doughnut hole because they can't afford them.  This puts them in an extremely dangerous situation.  Kenneth Smith, lead author of the report which was published in The American Journal of Managed Care, also called on the government to increase the discount seniors get on generics once they are in the doughnut hole.  Last year, they were given a 50% discount on name-brand drugs and 14% on generics, but he doesn't think that's enough.  Smith pointed out that many patients who can't afford their medications cost the government more money because they end up being hospitalized.  Lowering the out  of pocket expenses will cost the government more money in the short term but it could end up saving more money over the long term as hospital stays are very expensive.