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This report presents findings from an analysis of the Medicare Part D marketplace in 2014 and changes in features of the drug benefit offered by Part D plans since 2006. It examines the latest information and trends related to Part D enrollment and plan availability, premiums, benefit design and cost sharing, pharmacy networks, the Low-Income Subsidy Program, and plan performance ratings.
Selected findings from the March/April 2004 Kaiser Family Foundation Health Poll Report survey underscores the need to educate seniors about the new Medicare prescription drug program - both the transitional discount card program that will be go into effect on June 1, 2004 and the full Medicare benefit that begins in January 2006. The survey, which is conducted every two months, is designed and analyzed by staff at the Foundation and colleagues at the Harvard…
Chartpack -- The Public's Health Care Agenda for the New President and Congress This chartpack provides the key findings from the survey of the public's attitudes regarding the health care agenda for President Obama and the new Congress in 2009. It assesses the relative priority placed on health care by the American public as part of addressing the economic recession and as a large scale reform issue. The public's priorities for health care reform and…
This paper describes the various steps of the Medicare Part D appeals process for obtaining necessary drugs not on a plan’s formulary. Using case reports collected from a network of beneficiary advocates, it illustrates the challenges and problems some beneficiaries encountered when navigating this aspect of the drug benefit. The paper concludes with a discussion of potential policy options including the implications of establishing an exceptions and appeals process that is uniform in paperwork and…
Prescription Drugs: Advertising, Out-of-Pocket Costs, and Patient Safety from the Perspective of Doctors and Pharmacists This document highlights additional findings from separate surveys of pharmacists and physicians related to their views and experiences on a wide range of health care issues. Issue Brief (.pdf)
These toplines provide the complete results from a comprehensive survey of seniors on their understanding of and views toward the Medicare drug benefit. The survey of 802 seniors was conducted in late October 2005, prior to the start of the benefit's open enrollment period, which runs from Nov. 15, 2005 to May 15, 2006. The survey was conducted and analyzed by researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health. It…
These toplines provide the results of a 2006 national survey of pharmacists on their views and experiences related to the new Medicare drug benefit. Topline (.pdf)
States are grappling with a fiscal crisis that threatens funding for Medicaid, the federal-state partnership that provides health coverage for low-income populations. Two new studies shed light on the impact of an increasingly popular strategy - prior authorization - being used to control prescription drug spending. In fiscal year 2003, some 21 states are planning to expand or create prior authorization systems where the state must provide pre-approval before selected drugs can be dispensed to…
As the U.S. Congress continues to search for an agreement on the form of a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Commission has two new reports related to the debate. One new publication reports on findings from an October 26 discussion with state Medicaid officials on the implications of a Medicare drug benefit for states and dual eligibles. The other report provides state-level estimates on spending on dual eligibles and illustrates the effects of scenarios where…
This report highlights key policy priorities and issues state Medicaid programs focused on in FY 2025 and are prioritizing in FY 2026.
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