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Medicare's New Prescription Drug Benefit: The Voices of People Dually Covered by Medicare and Medicaid This focus group report highlights the kinds of questions, uncertainties, and reactions that dual eligibles have when asked about the impending changes in their drug coverage. Report (.pdf)
- Issue Paper This Issue Paper describes the discount card and low-income assistance programs and discusses their implications for low-income Medicare beneficiaries and state Medicaid programs. Issue Paper (.pdf)
Individuals with disabilities who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid must also shift to a Medicare prescription drug benefit in 2006. This report analyzes how younger dual eligibles in Kansas enrolled in work incentive programs differ than other Medicare enrollees in the types of drugs they use and how much drug spending they have to better assess the impact of the Medicare drug benefit on this population. Report (.pdf)
This report is a case study of Minnesota's efforts to increase enrollment in their Medicare Savings Programs under Medicaid for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Background Paper
Medicare's Role for Latinos Fact Sheet: The Medicare Program: Medicare's Role For Latinos
This Medicare Part D Data Spotlight focuses on the availability of drug plans for beneficiaries receiving the Part D low-income subsidy in 2009 and changes since 2006. For 2009, fewer than one in five plans qualify for automatic or facilitated enrollment of low-income subsidy beneficiaries, the lowest share since the inception of the Part D benefit. These plans have monthly premiums below a benchmark amount calculated for each region, enabling low-income subsidy beneficiaries to enroll…
This initial analysis examines the private stand-alone Part D drug plans will be available to Medicare beneficiaries in 2011 and provides an early look at key trends in the options, premiums, and other plan characteristics. It finds that the average Medicare beneficiary will have a choice of 33 Part D stand-alone prescription drug plans in 2011, despite a 30 percent reduction in the total number of stand-alone plans available nationwide. Monthly premiums for stand-alone prescription…
This brief provides key information about the new option for state Medicaid programs to provide "health home" services for enrollees with chronic conditions. The option, established under the new health reform law, took effect on Jan. 1, 2011. Health homes are designed to facilitate access to and coordination of the full array of primary and acute physical health services, behavioral health care and long-term community-based services and supports. Brief (.pdf)
This 50-state survey of Medicaid officials assesses states’ early experience relating to the transition of low-income seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare (dual eligibles) to the Medicare Part D drug benefit. Conducted by Health Management Associates, the survey covers the types of problems observed by states during the transition of dual eligibles to the Medicare drug benefit, state actions to correct problems and ensure temporary coverage, and specific data on…
This publication reports on the findings from an October 26 focus group discussion with state Medicaid officials on the implications of a Medicare drug benefit for states and dual eligibles. Report (.pdf)
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