Medicare Part D Beneficiaries Average $2,670 Per Year In Prescription Costs; Wide Regional Variations

The average cost of prescriptions used by Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part D was $2,670 during 2010. Across the 306 Medicare hospital referral regions (HRR), average costs ranged from the high of $4,738 in the Miami, Florida HRR to the low of $1,770 in the St. Cloud, Minnesota HRR. The variation was attributed to the overall volume of drugs prescribed and the decision to use brand name products. The average Medicare beneficiary enrolled in Part D filled 49 standardized 30-day prescriptions in 2010. Across the 306 HRRs, the number of prescriptions filled varied from the . . .