The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (or Medicare Part D) represents the largest expansion in Medicare benefits since the program’s inception in 1965, including a prescription drug benefit, preventive services, an expanded role for pharmacists, and health information technology initiatives. Medicare Part D holds the promise of greater access to affordable prescription drugs for the Medicare population—particularly for the medically underserved. Because of the potential to widen or reduce health disparities, the Cobb/NMA Institute added research on this subject to its agenda. The goal of this project is to create a portrait of the African American Medicare population with and without prescription drug coverage. The Cobb/NMA Institute intends to complete the portrait of the African American Medicare population by conducting research on the extent of prescription drug coverage among African American seniors and how they are faring in the coverage gap. The Cobb/NMA Institute is analyzing data on the Medicare population in Jackson (MS) and will use this locale to conduct research with African American seniors.
