Prescription drugs have become an increasingly important component of mental health treatment and the costs of psychotropic drugs have increased rapidly in recent years. However, there are major gaps in our knowledge about the economics of psychotropic drug treatment. This Mentored Research Scientist Development Award would allow Dr. Haiden Huskamp, a health economist with expertise in mental health policy and economic institutions, to supplement her economic tools with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct clinically-relevant and policy-significant research on the economics of prescription drugs used in the treatment of mental illnesses.
The specific aims of this career development proposal are to: 1) develop a greater understanding of clinical decision-making related to the use of psychotropic drugs; 2) acquire basic knowledge of psychopharmacology; and 3) expand knowledge of the important economic institutions influencing the prescription drug market. In this undertaking, Dr. Huskamp will be guided by her sponsor, Richard Frank, PhD, and co-sponsors, Andrew Nierenberg, MD, and Ernst Berndt, PhD. Her career development plan includes guided study with Dr. Nierenberg on clinical issues related to treatment decision-making and Drs. Berndt and Frank on economic institutions of the pharmaceutical market, as well as coursework and participation in psychopharmacological """"""""Grand Rounds,"""""""" relevant seminar series, and professional meetings. Dr. Huskamp will use the knowledge and skills developed through these career development activities to conduct three research projects. The first project examines the effect of generic entry in the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRls) on utilization patterns, costs, and market share among antidepressants as well as the competitive response of brand antidepressant manufacturers with respect to drug prices and promotional spending. The second project assesses the economic incentives created by three-tier drug formularies and how these arrangements affect costs, utilization patterns, and adherence to treatment guidelines in a non-elderly population. This project includes an economic welfare analysis of the tradeoffs associated with restrictive formularies. The third project examines the effect of a three-tier formulary on psychotropic drug costs and utilization patterns in a retiree population and explores the impact of formularies on the mental health costs of adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare and on access to appropriate psychotropic drug treatment under such a benefit. The proposed plan of career development will provide Dr. Huskamp the training, mentoring, time and resources to develop the skills that will put her in a position to lead independent research on the economics of pharmaceutical treatment for mental illnesses.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01MH066109-04
Application #
6896859
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZMH1-SRV-C (01))
Program Officer
Light, Enid
Project Start
2002-07-15
Project End
2007-05-31
Budget Start
2005-06-01
Budget End
2006-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$140,868
Indirect Cost
Name
Harvard University
Department
Administration
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
047006379
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Huskamp, Haiden A; West, Joyce C; Rae, Donald S et al. (2009) Part D and dually eligible patients with mental illness: medication access problems and use of intensive services. Psychiatr Serv 60:1169-74
Busch, Alisa B; Huskamp, Haiden A; Neelon, Brian et al. (2009) Longitudinal racial/ethnic disparities in antimanic medication use in bipolar-I disorder. Med Care 47:1217-28
Eselius, Laura L; Cleary, Paul D; Zaslavsky, Alan M et al. (2008) Case-mix adjustment of consumer reports about managed behavioral health care and health plans. Health Serv Res 43:2014-32
Huskamp, Haiden A; Donohue, Julie M; Koss, Catherine et al. (2008) Generic entry, reformulations and promotion of SSRIs in the US. Pharmacoeconomics 26:603-16
Huskamp, Haiden A; Stevenson, David G; Keating, Nancy L et al. (2008) Rejections of drug claims for nursing home residents under Medicare Part D. Health Aff (Millwood) 27:560-7
Stevenson, David G; Huskamp, Haiden A; Newhouse, Joseph P (2008) Medicare part D and the nursing home setting. Gerontologist 48:432-41
Huskamp, Haiden A; Deverka, Patricia A; Landrum, Mary Beth et al. (2007) The effect of three-tier formulary adoption on medication continuation and spending among elderly retirees. Health Serv Res 42:1926-42
Busch, Alisa B; Huskamp, Haiden A; Landrum, Mary Beth (2007) Quality of care in a Medicaid population with bipolar I disorder. Psychiatr Serv 58:848-54
Azrin, Susan T; Huskamp, Haiden A; Azzone, Vanessa et al. (2007) Impact of full mental health and substance abuse parity for children in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Pediatrics 119:e452-9
Stevenson, David G; Huskamp, Haiden A; Keating, Nancy L et al. (2007) Medicare Part D and nursing home residents. J Am Geriatr Soc 55:1115-25

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