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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, focusing on the views of people under age 65 with physical and/or mental disabilities. Supplemental Chartpack (.pdf)
This issue brief compares the financial alignment demonstrations for beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid in states that have memoranda of understanding approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
On January 1, 2006, the six million Americans who are covered by both Medicare and Medicaid saw a change in how their prescription drugs are covered. The dual eligible population was transitioned from Medicaid into the Medicare prescription drug benefit. As a group, these beneficiaries are poorer and sicker than those on Medicare. Consequently, they have more extensive health and prescription drug needs than most Medicare beneficiaries.
The New Medicare Prescription Drug Law: Issues for Enrolling Dual Eligibles into Drug Plans This report describes the characteristics of dual eligibles and then discussess four key elements of the transition of their drug coverage to Medicare. Issue Paper (.pdf)
This national survey of 17,685 seniors captures detailed information about their prescription drug use, coverage and experiences. It also includes state-specific comparative data for seniors in 12 states -- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee and Washington. This 2003 survey was conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Commonwealth Fund and Tufts-New England Medical Center. An article presenting its findings was published by Health Affairs as a web exclusive…
Medicare Part D: Issues for Dual Eligibles on the Eve of Implementation This issue brief describes how dual eligibles are treated under the Medicare drug benefit and the issues raised by their transition from Medicaid to Medicare drug coverage. The brief also explores key differences in the Medicare drug benefit compared to Medicaid drug coverage (formularies, copayments, and appeals policies) which could make the shift especially challenging for dual eligibles. Issue Brief (.pdf)
Medicare Drug Benefit Enrollment Update This enrollment update breaks down and explains the statistics related to enrollment under the new Medicare drug benefit and the separate low-income subsidy program that provides additional assistance. The enrollment update summarizes the latest enrollment figures released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Social Security Administration and compares them with earlier enrollment projections. Issue Brief (.pdf)
Tracking Prescription Drug Coverage Under Medicare: Five Ways to Look at the New Enrollment Numbers This new analysis, which assesses Medicare drug benefit enrollment statistics released Feb. 22 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, examines five different approaches to understanding the Medicare drug coverage numbers: What share of the total Medicare population has creditable prescription drug coverage? What share of the total Medicare population is enrolled in a Medicare drug plan? How…
In 2006, low-income individuals receiving health coverage through both the Medicaid and Medicare programs, “dual eligibles,” experienced a change in their prescription drug benefit when their Medicaid prescription coverage was replaced by the Medicare prescription drug program known as Medicare Part D. This study provides information on the ongoing successes and challenges that dual eligibles faced in the first eight months of Part D and how different state approaches may affect dual eligibles’ ability to…
This chartbook provides the most recent and reliable data available about the Medicare program and the 47 million seniors and younger people with disabilities who get health insurance coverage through the program. Topics covered include: Medicare beneficiaries; the program's benefits, utilization, and access to care; prescription drugs; the Medicare Advantage program; the role of Medicaid for Medicare beneficiaries; supplemental insurance coverage; out-of-pocket spending; and Medicare spending and financing. Printable Chartbook (.pdf)
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