The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
KFF’s policy research provides facts and analysis on a wide range of policy issues and public programs.
KFF designs, conducts and analyzes original public opinion and survey research on Americans’ attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with the health care system to help amplify the public’s voice in major national debates.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the organization’s core operating programs.
These summaries, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., provide detailed information about the prescription drug provisions of the Medicare legislation (P.L. 108-173) signed by the President on December 8, 2003. Report (.pdf)
Additional Help with Prescription Drug Costs For Low-Income People on Medicare (For 2007 Benefits and Cost-Sharing) As of 2007, Medicare helps pay for outpatient prescription drugs. Medicare provides additional help with drug costs to beneficiaries who qualify based on low incomes and limited resources. The information below describes the different levels of assistance available to people who meet the eligibility requirements. People on Medicare Who Also Have Full Medicaid Benefits (Dual Eligibles) pay: No premium…
This survey of state Medicaid pharmacy programs updates a survey conducted in 2000 and reports Medicaid prescription drug policies in effect in early 2003. It covers utilization management policies, payment and purchasing policies, utilization review policies, and policies for managed care enrollees and persons residing in institutions. Report (.pdf)
Issues Surrounding the “Clawback” or State Contributions Towards Medicare Drug Coverage: A Conference Call Discussion As part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 signed into law last year, Congress included a financing provision that requires a monthly payment from each state to the Medicare program beginning in January 2006. MMA’s clawback provision will recapture most of the savings that states would realize when Medicare assumes prescription drug costs for…
This paper, by Joy Pritts of the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, looks at issues related to drug plan marketing activities and privacy under the MMA. Issue Brief (.pdf)
This comprehensive survey of people on Medicare, conducted in June and July 2004, assesses their attitudes toward the new Medicare drug law. This chartpack, issued in September 2004, presents additional analysis on the survey data, looking at key findings broken down by income group. Chartpack (.pdf)
This document includes the toplines from a comprehensive survey of people on Medicare and their attitudes toward the new Medicare drug law. The survey provides detailed insight in their perceptions and opinions about the law, the Medicare-approved drug-discount card program and the new Medicare drug benefit set to begin in January 2006. It also assesses views on the law’s implications for the 2004 elections. Survey Toplines (.pdf)
This comprehensive survey of people on Medicare assesses their attitudes toward the new Medicare drug law. The survey provides detailed insight in their perceptions and opinions about the law, the Medicare-approved drug-discount card program and the new Medicare drug benefit set to begin in January 2006. It also assesses views on the law’s implications for the 2004 elections. Summary/Chartpack (.pdf)
A national Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health survey of people on Medicare finds nearly twice as many people on Medicare have an unfavorable view of the law as have a favorable view. Conducted from June 16 to July 21, 2004, the survey of 1,223 people on Medicare finds that most don’t think the law will be helpful to them personally. Two out of three people on Medicare say that lawmakers in Washington should…
This document, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., provides a detailed summary of the prescription drug provisions of the Medicare legislation (P.L. 108-173) signed by the President on December 8, 2003. Report (.pdf)
© 2026 KFF