Medicare insulin program cuts costs, improves care: RAND

CMS’ Part D Senior Savings Model effectively increased insulin use while reducing out-of-pocket costs among Medicare beneficiaries, according to a RAND report published Sept. 22. 

The program also decreased costs for the federal government though Medicare beneficiaries who do not use insulin experienced increased drug insurance costs.

CMS tested the model in 2021, 2022 and 2023, and allowed for both standalone prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans to provide insulin at a fixed copayment of no more than $35 for a one-month supply, according to a Sept. 22 news release from RAND. 

The model was also associated with an increase in overall medical spending among insulin users enrolled in standalone Part D prescription drug plans, though these findings were “muted” in 2023 when the Inflation Reduction Act permanently extended cost-lowering mandates for insulin across all Part D plans, the release said. 

Read the full report here.

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