In 2003, Bush had the US govt start to pay for drugs for seniors.
@Henry - that was my first thought, too :-)
Why did you leave off the last sentence of the summary:
" For this group, there is some evidence that prescription drug insurance was associated with a decrease in the use of outpatient services."
Perhaps a form of Jevons Paradox? Perhaps the availability of drugs creates the moral hazard for people to not be as prudent in the health decisions which offsets the effects of the drugs.
I shouldn't have to say this here: price marginal drugs don't help.
Now the drugs don't work, they just make you worse.
(Well, if you care about fiscal costs).
@Henry - that was my first thought, too :-)
Why did you leave off the last sentence of the summary:
" For this group, there is some evidence that prescription drug insurance was associated with a decrease in the use of outpatient services."
Perhaps a form of Jevons Paradox? Perhaps the availability of drugs creates the moral hazard for people to not be as prudent in the health decisions which offsets the effects of the drugs.
I shouldn't have to say this here: price marginal drugs don't help.
Now the drugs don't work, they just make you worse.
(Well, if you care about fiscal costs).