Promise or peril? impact of the medicare drug benefit on the ESRD population

Percent of Medicare beneficiaries with drug coverage, by source of coverage (2002 projection).

Patient distribution by insurance coverage at initiation of ESRD by race and ethnicity. M&M, Medicare and Medicaid; M/caid, Medicaid only; M/care, Medicare only. Patients with Medicare coverage accompanied by employer-based or other insurance coverage are more likely to be white, whereas minority populations are more likely to have Medicare/Medicaid or no insurance coverage. The data reported here have been supplied by the United States Renal Data System (USRDS).15 Interpretation and reporting of these data are the responsibility of the author and in no way should be seen as an official policy or interpretation of the United States government.

Prescription drug use in ESRD Medicare beneficiaries, by presence of secondary insurance. Reprinted with permission from Shih.9