PMID: 18424875Apr 22, 2008Paper

Differences in the cost of antidepressants across state Medicaid programs

The Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics
Christina M L KeltonJeff J Guo

Abstract

Depression is the most prevalent major mental health disorder, affecting between eight and ten percent of the population in the United States. The U.S. Medicaid programs spent in total over USD 2.3 billion on antidepressant drugs in 2003, across three categories of antidepressants including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, and others. Each state has its own set of cost-containment policies with respect to antidepressants, as well as other drugs, including preferred drug lists, prior authorization policies, copay systems, drug utilization reviews, and physician and patient education. Our objectives for this study are to describe in detail state Medicaid spending on antidepressants and to determine the magnitude and significance of the effects of Medicaid drug policies on reimbursement expense. Data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are used to calculate state expenditures on antidepressants and number of prescriptions for antidepressants. Policy variables are taken from a 2003 Kaiser Commission report. Additional data on state population, employment, and weather are found in Census 2000 and other government sources. Descriptive summary tables are used to explain reimbursement ...Continue Reading

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