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  • Medicare Part D 2008 Data Spotlight: Low-Income Subsidy Plan Availability

    Issue Brief

    This Medicare Part D Data Spotlight focuses on the availability of drug plans for beneficiaries receiving the Part D low-income subsidy in 2008 and changes since 2006. It looks at data from the 47 stand-alone prescription drug plans available nationwide in 2008. This is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the 2008 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan choices. The analysis was conducted jointed by Jack Hoadley of Georgetown University, Elizabeth Hargrave of NORC…

  • Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in 2008 and Key Changes Since 2006: Summary of Findings

    Issue Brief

    This synthesis of key findings from analysis presented in a series of eight Medicare Part D 2008 Data Spotlights describes key features of stand-alone prescription drug plans offered in 2008 and trends since 2006. The synthesis covers a range of topics, including premiums, the coverage gap, benefit design, cost sharing, specialty tiers, formularies, utilization management, the top 10 brand-name prescription drugs, and the availability of low-income subsidy plans. The analysis was conducted jointed by Jack…

  • Five Basic Facts on Immigrants and Their Health Care

    Issue Brief

    As discussions on national health care reform move to the forefront, some have focused on the role of immigrants in the health care system, including their impact on the nation’s uninsured problem, their participation in public health coverage programs, and their use of hospital emergency rooms. To address questions about how immigrants use and affect the health care system, this brief draws on available research and data to highlight five key facts about immigrants’ health…

  • Medicaid: Overview and Impact of New Regulations

    Issue Brief

    In the past year the Bush Administration has moved forward with significant changes to the Medicaid program via rule-making. Taken together, six new regulations could result in an estimated $12 billion reduction in federal Medicaid spending over the next five years according to the regulatory impact statements prepared by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This brief focuses on the six new regulations that have been the source of considerable controversy and explains current policy,…

  • Medicare Part D 2008 Data Spotlight: Utilization Management

    Issue Brief

    This Medicare Part D data spotlight examines three common techniques used by Medicare stand-alone prescription drug plans in 2008 to manage enrollees’ use of formulary drugs, such as quantity limits, prior authorization, and step therapy rules. This is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the 2008 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan choices. It analyzes data from the 47 stand-alone prescription drug plans available nationwide using a sample of 169 commonly-used and high-cost…

  • Methodology Appendix to the Medicare Part D 2008 Data Spotlights

    Issue Brief

    The Kaiser Family Foundation has also posted an appendix detailing the methodology used in the Medicare Part D 2008 Data Spotlight series. The series analyzes key aspects of the 2008 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan choices. All of the spotlights in this series were prepared by a team of researchers at Georgetown University, NORC and the Kaiser Family Foundation. Data Spotlight Appendix (.pdf)

  • Medicare Part D 2008 Data Spotlight: Formularies

    Issue Brief

    This Medicare Part D data spotlight examines the formularies (list of covered drugs) of Medicare stand-alone prescription drug plans in 2008, changes since 2006, and differences in how plans cover brand-name and generic drugs. This is one in a series analyzing key aspects of the 2008 Medicare Part D prescription drug plan choices. It analyzes data from the 47 stand-alone prescription drug plans available nationwide using a sample of commonly-used and high-cost prescription drugs. The…

  • How Trends in the Health Care System Affect Low-Income Adults: Identifying Access Problems and Financial Burdens

    Issue Brief

    As policymakers focus on strategies to improve health insurance coverage, this brief highlights findings from the Kaiser Low-Income Coverage and Access Survey on the current role that insurance plays in facilitating access to care for low-income adults and in protecting against financial burdens. Findings demonstrate that health insurance is a critical lever to open the door to health care services for low-income adults. Uninsured low-income adults often experience health problems, but are more likely than…

  • Medicare Part D 2008 Data Spotlights

    Issue Brief

    To better understand changes in the private plans providing drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries under the program's Part D benefit, the Kaiser Family Foundation is issuing a series of data spotlights analyzing key elements of Medicare's private drug plans. Each spotlight will focus on a key aspect of the drug plans that will be available to Medicare beneficiaries in 2008 and examine relevant trends since the Medicare drug benefit took effect in 2006. >>More Recent…