Filter

161-170 of 475 results

  • The Effect of Formularies and Other Cost Management Tools on Access to Medications: An Analysis of the MMA and Proposed Regulations

    Issue Brief

    This paper, by John F. Hoadley, Ph.D., of the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, examines how formulary designs and other cost-management tools may affect Medicare beneficiaries’ access to medications through their Medicare Part D prescription drug plans. It is one in a series commissioned by the Kaiser Family Foundation that analyzes issues surrounding the implementation of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and the proposed regulations. Issue Brief (.pdf)

  • Summary of the Proposed Rule to Implement the New Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

    Issue Brief

    In August 2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a proposed rule to implement the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Title I of the Medicare Modernization Act). Given the high level of interest in the proposed rules for implementing the Medicare drug benefit, the Kaiser Family Foundation commissioned Health Policy Alternatives, Inc. to prepare this summary of the proposed regulations. Issue Brief (.pdf)

  • The Impact of Cost Sharing on Appropriate Utilization and Health Status: A Review of the Literature on Seniors

    Other Post

    The Impact of Cost-Sharing on Appropriate Utilization and Health Status: A Review of the Literature on Seniors This article provides a review of research that has addressed the impact of patient cost-sharing on the use of health care services and subsequent health status for those ages 65 and older. Twenty-two studies are reviewed -- 16 focusing on cost-sharing for prescription drugs and 6 on cost-sharing for medical services. The article concludes that most studies examined…

  • Kaiser Family Foundation/ Harvard School of Public Health Medicare Prescription Drug Survey

    Report

    A new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health examines public opinion on the current Medicare prescription drug debate. The survey, a follow-up to a broader, more comprehensive survey released in June 2003 about the Medicare program and proposed changes, finds that a majority of seniors want Congress to pass Medicare prescription drug legislation this year, but most worry that they will still pay too much for drugs even if…

  • Serving Low-Income Families Through Premium Assistance: A Look At Recent State Activity

    Issue Brief

    This issue paper examines the policies in the HIFA waiver initiative that provide incentives for states to use Medicaid/SCHIP funds to assist in the purchase of private insurance options. It also reports on how states have responded to these new policies and what key policy questions are raised about premium assistance programs. Issue Paper (.pdf)

  • Political History of Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage

    Other Post

    A Political History of Medicare and Prescription Drug Coverage Thomas R. Oliver, Philip R. Lee, and Helene L. Lipton This article examines the history of efforts to add prescription drug coverage to the Medicare program. It identifies several important patterns in policymaking over four decades. First, prescription drug coverage has usually been tied to the fate of broader proposals for Medicare reform. Second, action has been hampered by divided government, federal budget deficits, and ideological…

  • The Medicare Prescription Drug Law – What Are Seniors Saying?

    Other Post

    As the first phase of the new Medicare prescription drug law takes effect, the Kaiser Family Foundation commissioned focus groups conducted by Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies and Geoff Garin of Peter D. Hart Research Associates in consultation with Foundation staff. The focus groups were designed to explore what people on Medicare know and think about the discount drug card that went in effect June 1st, and the new benefit that takes effect in…

  • Reactions to the New Medicare Law, Findings Based on Focus Groups with People on Medicare

    Report

    This report, Reactions to the New Medicare Drug Law, produced jointly by a bipartisan team of pollsters from Public Opinion Strategies and Peter D. Hart Research Associates, presents key findings from ten focus groups of people on Medicare in three cities: Pittsburgh, PA; Kansas City, KS, and Washington, DC. The focus groups explored knowledge, perceptions, and early experiences with the new Medicare drug law – both the Medicare-approved drug discount card and the drug benefit…