Prescription Drugs and the Elderly: Many Still Receive Potentially
Harmful Drugs Despite Recent Improvements (Testimony, 03/28/96,
GAO/T-HEHS-96-114).

GAO reviewed the inappropriate use of prescription drugs among the
elderly. GAO noted that: (1) according to 1992 data, about 17.5 percent
of the almost 30 million Medicare beneficiaries were prescribed drugs
inappropriate for their age; (2) factors that contribute to the
inappropriate use of drugs include poor coordination among patients,
doctors, and pharmacists, and the absence of guidelines for prescribing
drugs to the elderly; (3) the elderly are especially vulnerable to
health risks from inappropriate uses of prescription drugs; (4) the
misuse of prescription drugs increases health care costs; and (5)
increased monitoring of prescription drug use, greater awareness among
doctors and patients, and improved coordination of care, such as in
managed care plans and pharmacy benefit management firms, may reduce
costs and inappropriate drug use.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-HEHS-96-114
     TITLE:  Prescription Drugs and the Elderly: Many Still Receive 
             Potentially Harmful Drugs Despite Recent Improvements
      DATE:  03/28/96
   SUBJECT:  Health hazards
             Health maintenance organizations
             Health care cost control
             Elderly persons
             Physicians
             Drugs
             Medical information systems
             Managed health care
             Pharmacological research
             Health care programs
IDENTIFIER:  Medicare Program
             Medicaid Program
             Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey