Medical pot may have saved Medicare dollars.

Could medical marijuana reduce the cost burden on Medicare?

There's evidence that's the case from a new study showing that in states where it is legal, medical marijuana may be serving as an alternative to some presciption drugs for olderAmericans.

The study byHealth Affairs looked atMedicare Part D data from 2010 to 2013. It foundthatmedical marijuana -often prescribed forpain, anxiety and depression issues -may be the reasonwhyuse ofMedicareapproved drugsfell during the period.

The demand for other drugs typically used by older patients, such as blood-thinners, didn't decline, the study found.

Health Affairs researchers concluded that Medicare drug costs were cut $165 million in 2013, mostly attributable to medical marijuana.

One reason costs may have dropped is that marijuana is not covered by insurance, so patients must pay for it with their own money. A federal agency is considering changing the classification for medical marijuana, which would allow doctors to prescribe it and insurers to pay for it.