Our new research was published in Health Affairs this week. Using national data, we found that patients with VA coverage – which provides medications with no or low copays to veterans – were less likely than those with other forms of insurance to go without needed medications, especially among those with serious chronic diseases. VA coverage also reduced or attenuated racial and income-based disparities in prescription drug access.

We contend that the VA pharmacy benefit should be considered as a model to address the crisis in prescription drug affordability.

The study was covered in STAT: https://www.statnews.com/…/veterans-drugs-cost-patient-ad…/…

Here’s the press release: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/…/pfan-pwv010320.php

And here’s a link to the study itself: http://www.healthaffairs.org/…/a…/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.00481