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  • The New Medicare Drug Benefit:  Potential Effects of Pharmacy Management Tools on Access to Medications

    Issue Brief

    The New Medicare Drug Benefit: Potential Effects of Pharmacy Management Tools on Access to Medications This report describes the pharmacy benefit management tools that will be available to private plans administering the new Medicare drug benefit, including formularies, the definition of categories and classes, and cost sharing requirements. The authors conclude that substantial flexibility given to plans to design management tools could have significant implications for beneficiaries’ access to needed medications and out-of-pocket spending. Issue…

  • The New Medicare Rx Benefit:  Challenges for Maintaining Access to Prescription Drugs

    Other Post

    The New Medicare Rx Benefit: Challenges for Maintaining Access to Prescription Drugs With the launch of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit less than 18 months away, and growing interest in beneficiaries’ access to medications in the future, the Kaiser Family Foundation is pleased to release two new publications that examine issues concerning access to medications raised by the implementation of the new Part D Medicare prescription drug benefit. The New Medicare Drug…

  • Additional Help with Rx Drug Costs For Low-Income People on Medicare

    Other Post

    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…

  • The “Clawback:” State Financing of Medicare Drug Coverage

    Issue Brief

    This issue paper describes the origins of the clawback, the formula by which each state’s clawback amount is calculated, and the clawback’s implications for states and for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. 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…

  • Trends in Medicare Supplemental Insurance and Prescription Drug Benefits, 1996-2001Data Update

    Report

    Trends in Medicare Supplemental Insurance and Prescription Drug Benefits, 1996-2001 Data Update This data update provides estimates of supplemental insurance and prescription drug coverage rates and trends between 1996 and 2001, which will help to provide important context for assessing future changes in supplemental insurance and drug coverage rates after provisions of the Medicare drug benefit take effect. Report (.pdf)

  • 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…

  • The State of Retiree Health Benefits: Historical Trends and Future Uncertainties

    Event

    Tricia Neuman, Vice President and Director of the Medicare Policy Project for the Kaiser Family Foundation, testified on Monday, May 17, at a U.S. Senate Committee on Aging hearing on issues relating to retiree health coverage, "Access to Adequate Health Insurance: How Does the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Recent Rule Affect Retiree Health Benefits?" Testimony (.pdf) Webcast of Hearing