Where Medicare Beneficiaries Live Can Affect Which Medications They Are Prescribed, Study Finds
Where Medicare beneficiaries live can make a difference in which medications they are prescribed, leading some individuals to receive risky treatments while others miss out on treatments altogether, according to a study released Tuesday by the Dartmouth Atlas Project. The analysis found that beneficiaries living in Alexandria, La., were more than three times more likely to receive potentially harmful substances -- such as certain muscle relaxants or anxiety relievers, which can cause problems like excessive sedation and falls -- than individuals in Rochester, Minn.
- "Geography Affects What Drugs Seniors Are Prescribed" (Neergaard, AP/Modern Healthcare, 10/16).