Deck 10: Pharmacoeconomics

Question 1

Mary has a two-tiered prescription benefit plan, which means:

A)She can receive differing levels of care based on whether she chooses an "in-plan" provider or not.
B)She is eligible for the new Medicare Part D "donut hole" reduction of costs program.
C)She pays a higher copay for brand-name drugs than for generic drugs.
D)She must always choose to be treated with generic drugs first.

Answer 1

She pays a higher copay for brand-name drugs than for generic drugs.

Question 2

Prescribing less-expensive generic drugs or drugs off the $4 retail pharmacy lists:

A)Increases the complexity of the pharmacoeconomics of prescribing for the individual patient
B)Increases compliance by reducing the financial burden of drug costs to the patient
C)Is not sound prescribing practice due to the inferiority of the generic products
D)Will increase the overall cost of drugs to the system due to the ease of overprescribing less-expensive drugs

Answer 2

Increases compliance by reducing the financial burden of drug costs to the patient

Question 3

James tells you that he is confused by his Medicare Part D coverage plan. An appropriate intervention would be:

A)Order cognitive testing to determine the source of his confusion.
B)Sit down with him and explain the whole Medicare Part D process.
C)Refer him to the Medicare specialist in his insurance plan to explain his benefits to him.
D)Request his son come to the next appointment so you can explain the benefits to him.

Answer 3

Refer him to the Medicare specialist in his insurance plan to explain his benefits to him.

Question 4

The "donut hole" in Medicare Part D:

A)Was totally eliminated with the federal health-care reform enacted in 2010
B)Refers to the period of time when annual individual drug costs are between $250 and $2,250 and drug costs are covered 75%
C)Refers to the period of time when annual individual drug costs are between $2,970 and $4,750 and the patient pays 52.5% of the cost of brand name drugs (2013)
D)Has no effect on whether patients continue to fill their prescriptions during the coverage gap

Question 5

The intangible costs of drug therapy include:

A)Loss of wages while undergoing therapy
B)Inconvenience, pain, and suffering incurred with therapy
C)Cost of medical equipment in the laboratory used to monitor therapeutic drug levels
D)Cost of prescription drug coverage, such as Medicare Part D

Question 6

Cost-effectiveness analysis compares two or more treatments or programs that are:

A)Not necessarily therapeutically equivalent
B)Considered equal in efficacy
C)Compared with the dollar value of the benefit received
D)Expressed in terms of patient preference or quality-adjusted life years

Question 7

When the costs of a specific treatment or intervention are calculated and then compared with the dollar value of the benefit received it is referred to as:

A)Cost-minimization analysis
B)Cost-of-illness analysis
C)Cost-effectiveness analysis
D)Cost-benefit analysis

Question 8

Research has shown that when patients who are covered by Medicare Part D reach the "donut hole" in coverage they:

A)Ask for extra refills of medication to get them through the months of no coverage
B)Fill their prescriptions less frequently, including critical medications such as warfarin or statins
C)Fill their critical medications, but hold off on filling less-critical medications
D)Demonstrate no change in their prescription filling pattern

Question 9

Pharmacoeconomics is:

A)The study of the part of the U.S. economy devoted to drug use
B)The study of the impact of prescription drug costs on the overall economy
C)The analysis of the costs and consequences of any health-care-related treatment or service
D)The analysis of the clinical efficacy of a drug

Question 10

Indirect costs associated with drug therapy include:

A)The cost of diagnostic tests to monitor therapeutic levels
B)Health-care provider time to prescribe and educate the patient
C)Childcare expenses incurred while receiving therapy
D)Loss of wages while undergoing drug therapy

Question 11

The direct costs of drug therapy include:

A)The actual cost of acquiring the medication
B)The loss of income due to illness
C)Pain and suffering due to inadequate drug therapy
D)The cost of a funeral associated with premature death

Question 12

When a pharmacoeconomic analysis looks at two or more treatment alternatives that are considered equal in efficacy and compares the costs of each it is referred to as:

A)Cost-minimization analysis
B)Cost-of-illness analysis
C)Cost-effectiveness analysis
D)Cost-benefit analysis