By JANET McGREGOR
Contributing Writer

According to a new report issued by Families USA, a consumer health care organization, prices for the 50 drugs most frequently prescribed for seniors on average rose nearly double the rate of inflation last year.

The report, “Still Rising: Drug Prices Increases for Seniors, 1999 - 2000,” examined the cost of the 50 drugs from January 1999 to January 2000 and from January 1994 to January 2000. The study found that prices for the drugs rose 3.6 percent over the last year against a 2.2 percent increase in inflation.

The cost of furosemide, a diuretic manufactured by Watson which is used to treat hypertension and congesrt failure, rose by 50 percent, nearly 23 times the inflation rate. Klor-Con, manufactured by Upsher-Smith, increased about 20 times the rate of inflation.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, about 19 million elderly people in the United States have "little or no drug coverage." Seniors 65 and older consume almost 35 percent of all prescription drugs, although they comprise roughly 12 percent of the population. At least one in five seniors takes at least five prescription drugs a day.

Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, seniors spent an average of $53 a month on drugs in 1997. Over 2 million seniors spend more than $100 a month for medication.

The findings by the Families USA report are already having an impact on the ongoing political debate regarding prescription drug coverage for seniors. A complete copy of the report can be obtained via the Internet at www.familiesusa.org

For more related information online:

www.ncpa.org/pi/health

www.aoa.dhhs.gov

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