The Effect of Medicare Part D on Pharmaceutical Prices and Utilization
研究了2006年实施的Medicare D部分计划对药品价格和利用的影响，发现参保者支付价格降低、药品利用增加，但价格下降仅出现在有显著治疗竞争的药物中。
Medicare Part D began coverage of prescription drugs in 2006. Rather than setting pharmaceutical prices, the government contracted with private insurers to provide drug coverage. Theory suggests that additional insured consumers will raise the optimal price of a branded drug, while the insurer's ability to move demand to substitute treatments may lower prices. We estimate the program's effect on the price and utilization of pharmaceutical treatments. We find that Part D enrollees paid substantially lower prices than while uninsured, and increased their utilization of prescription drugs. We find relative price declines only for drugs with significant therapeutic competition.