Data from the Agency for Healthcare...

Data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Medical Expenditure Panel observe show that expenses for medications prescribed to outpatients increased from $723 billion in 1997 to $103 billion in 2000 according to an Aug 5 2003 moderns release from AHRQ. Other finding from the scan include the following.

* Outpatient prescription medication charges increased from approximately 13% of total medical costs in 1997 to more than 16% in 2000

* Average out-of-pocket outlays for people age 65 and older were more than three times higher than for race under age 65 each year from 1997 to 2000

* The average prescription medicine charge for people age 65 and older increased about 35% from $819 in 1997 to $1102 in 2000

* The average number of prescriptions for folks age 65 and older was more than twice the average number of prescriptions for folks younger than age 65 each year from 1997 to 2000

Spending for Prescribed Medicines Rose Sharply From 1997 by the and of 2000 (news release, Rockville, Md: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Aug 5 2003)

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