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April, 2001 Washington
State
Department of Social and Health
Services
 MAA Aged, Blind &
Disabled Categorically Needy Top 20 Drugs
During FY
2000, the number of drug prescriptions for Aged, Blind,
and Disabled Categorically Needy clients increased 28.1 percent
over early 1998. The average cost for all prescription drugs
increased
even more, rising 31.7 percent, and spending for prescription
drugs showed
a 60.3 percent increase over the two-year period from early
1998.
Mirroring
MAA expenditures, nationwide statistics show expansive growth
in pharmaceutical spending. The highest use and cost growth for
prescription
drugs is found within the aged population, which reflects a
switch to
newer, higher-priced drugs and increases in the number of prescriptions
per senior, according to Medicine and Health News. On Capitol
Hill, public and private sector representatives have decried
recent drug
cost increases and have predicted double digit growth through
Year 2011. 
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