Latest Morning Briefing Stories
Employers, Retirees With Drug Coverage Question Implications of Medicare Drug Benefit
Health insurers have begun marketing Medicare prescription drug plans, but some retirees with prescription drug coverage and employers that provide such coverage are questioning what the drug benefit means for them.
Care Provider Preparedness Could Affect Part D Rollout
The federal government has recommended that Medicare beneficiaries consult care providers with questions about the Medicare drug benefit, but some senior advocates and professional associations say providers might not be prepared to answer such questions.
New Medicare Drug Benefit Might Be a Tough Sell
Advocacy groups in California and nationwide are preparing to help Medicare beneficiaries enroll in the new Medicare prescription drug benefit and are specifically preparing to educate beneficiaries about provisions of the benefit while addressing their concerns about enrollment and the benefit itself.
New Medicare Drug Benefit Excludes Some Medicines
The new Medicare drug benefit does not provide coverage for all classes of prescription drugs, and some patient advocates are particularly concerned about the exclusion of benzodiazepines.
Data From Medicare Drug Benefit Eyed for Rx Safety Project
CMS Administrator Mark McClellan in May proposed using prescription drug information collected through the new Medicare drug benefit to improve FDA surveillance systems. McClellan and HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt have said personal data will remain secure, but some advocates have raised questions.
Additional Subsidies Available to Some Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries
Low-income Medicare beneficiaries will be eligible for some additional financial assistance under the new drug benefit, but some consumer advocates have raised questions about outreach efforts.
California Insurers Expect Widespread Participation in Medicare Drug Benefit
Although some critics have questioned how many health plans will sign on to offer prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, California health plans in urban and rural areas alike say they will participate in the Medicare drug benefit program. Some advocates continue to voice concerns about how health plans will implement the program and what beneficiaries can expect.
Proposals Could Affect Federal Funding for Medi-Cal
California residents send more federal taxes to Washington, D.C., than they receive in federal funding in part because of the state’s demographic make up. However, proposals for Medicaid funding are under consideration that could increase or decrease the federal contribution to Medi-Cal.
Reimportation Remains an Issue in Efforts To Address Prescription Drug Costs
A recent poll found that a majority of U.S. residents support legalizing reimportation of prescription drugs, and some California lawmakers are supporting efforts to facilitate the practice. However, some say that the new Medicare prescription drug benefit will reduce some pressure to legalize reimportation.
Medicare HMO Members Get Savings for 2005
Provisions in the 2003 Medicare law provided funds to increase payments to Medicare HMOs and expand benefits for seniors covered under such plans. However, some advocates are concerned that Congress might consider reducing such funding because of federal budget deficits.