Medicare costs would decrease if beta-blocker drugs were used more widely to treat heart failure, according to a study by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Researchers estimate the treatment would save Medicare $6,064 per patient over a five-year period. They contend the treatment would save Medicare money even if it were to reimburse patients for the estimated $2,113 extra cost of buying the drugs.

For more information, visit www.ahrq.gov/whatsnew.htm.