States’ Role in Administering the New Part D Low-Income Subsidy Program: A Conference Call Discussion

States’ Role in Administering the New Part D Low-Income Subsidy Program: A Conference Call Discussion

The Medicare Modernization Act (MMA) created a major new subsidy program for an estimated 14 million low-income Medicare beneficiaries that will provide assistance with their cost-sharing obligations under the Part D drug benefit. The MMA requires state Medicaid agencies, along with the Social Security Administration (SSA), to accept applications for the new low-income subsidy. MMA also specifies that people who apply at Medicaid agencies for the low-income subsidy must be screened for eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs and, if found eligible, offered the chance to enroll. The proposed MMA regulations issued on August 3, 2004 provide further information on how CMS contemplates handling issues raised by the low-income subsidy program, and SSA is expected to issue shortly its own proposed regulations on its administration of the low-income subsidy.

To discuss the implications for states in administering MMA’s new low-income subsidy program, the National Association of Medicaid Directors and the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured will hold the third in a series of calls with state Medicaid officials on the MMA.

What: A Conference Call Briefing for State Officials and Staff

When: Thursday, September 23, 2004
2:00 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. EDT Presentations
2:40 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EDT Q&A and Discussion

How: Via conference call.
The conference call-in number is (800) 863-3908.
Password: KCMU.
Please call a few minutes early to secure a line (let the phone ring) to get through to the call.

Background materials for the call are available below:

Enrolling Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries in Subsidized Part D Drug Coverage (.pdf)
The Medicare Prescription Drug Law – Fact Sheet
Papers on Issues For People With Medicare Raised By Proposed Drug Benefit Regulations