Medicare Part D 2009 Data Spotlight: Specialty Tiers May 31, 2009 Issue Brief Most Medicare Part D prescription drug plans use tiers with different cost-sharing amounts for generic, preferred, and non-preferred drugs, and also include an additional “specialty” tier for very high cost and unique drugs. This 2009 Part D Data Spotlight examines use of the specialty tier, including the numbers and kinds…
The Obama Administration’s 2010 Call Letter for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans: Implications for Beneficiaries April 29, 2009 Issue Brief On March 30, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued the 2010 “call letter,” which functions as a request for proposals to private health insurers and organizations that want to sponsor Medicare Advantage Plans or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. This issue brief reviews the call letter — the first issued…
Overview of Medicare Part D Organizations, Plans and Benefits By Enrollment in 2006 and 2007 October 30, 2007 Report This chartpack provides detailed information about Medicare beneficiaries’ enrollment in the many private drug plans available to them in 2007. The charts demonstrate that a relatively small number of companies which captured the most enrollees in 2006, the new benefit’s first year, continued to lead in market share in the…
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Progress Report: Findings From A 2006 National Survey of Seniors August 1, 2007 Event The share of seniors without drug coverage dropped significantly under Medicare’s new drug benefit, according to this August 2007 Health Affairs Web Exclusive article based on a Kaiser Family Foundation, Commonwealth Fund and Tufts-New England Medical Center survey of more than 16,000 seniors. Seniors with drug coverage from any source…
The Role of State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs in Serving Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Following the Implementation of Medicare Part D July 2, 2007 Issue Brief The Role of State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs in Serving Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Following the Implementation of Medicare Part DPrior to January 1, 2006, State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs helped to fill a critical gap in coverage for Medicare beneficiaries without prescription drug coverage, targeting resources to beneficiaries with relatively low incomes.…
National Survey of Physicians 2006: Full Topline Results October 30, 2006 Poll Finding National Survey of Physicians 2006: Full Topline Results These toplines provide additional findings from a 2006 national survey of physicians on their views and experiences on a wide range of health care issues. Toplines (.pdf)
Additional Findings from the National Surveys of Doctors and Pharmacists October 30, 2006 Poll Finding Two Kaiser Family Foundation national surveys of doctors and pharmacists examine additional findings on their views and experiences on a wide range of health care issues. The topics covered in the surveys include views and experiences with medical errors and quality issues, use of health care information technology, prescription drug…
Early Experiences of Medicare Beneficiaries in Prescription Drug Plans August 1, 2006 Report This report offers insights into Medicare beneficiaries’ experiences with the new drug benefit, based on observations of State Health Insurance Assistance Plan (SHIP) directors convened for a moderated focus group discussion. Because SHIP directors work closely with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and are on the front lines…
Toward Making Medicare Work for Low-Income Beneficiaries: A Baseline Comparison of the Part D Low-Income Subsidy and Medicare Savings Programs Eligibility and Enrollment Rules April 30, 2006 Report Toward Making Medicare Work for Low-Income Beneficiaries: A Baseline Comparison of the Part D Low-Income Subsidy and Medicare Savings Programs Eligibility and Enrollment RulesThis report examines how the low-income provisions of the Medicare drug benefit interact with state-level assistance provided through the Medicare Savings Program.The Medicare drug benefit provides additional…
The Stability of Medicaid Coverage for Low-Income Dually Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries April 29, 2006 Report This report examines the stability of dual eligibility for the seven million Americans who rely on Medicaid to fill the gaps in their Medicare coverage and its implications for Medicare's new prescription drug benefits. The analysis focuses on the duration of dual eligibility, the rates of gain and loss of…
