Older Drugs, Shorter Lives: An Examination of the Health Effects of the Veterans National Administrative Formulary

This report estimates the differential impact of a national formulary based on the Veterans Health Administration Formulary. Demographic data published by the Veterans Administration indicate that the life expectancy of veterans increased substantially before the formulary was introduced in 1991-1997, but did not increase and may have even declined after it was introduced. This analysis of the data suggests that a national formulary for the Medicare drug benefit based on the VA formulary will result in reduced life span and survival rates among the Medicare population.