Medicare Central provides comprehensive background information about the new Medicare prescription drug law. Below are links to comments on the proposed regulations that govern implementation of the new law; materials from our Medicare Road Show, including the Walter Cronkite video; and the history behind the law's passage in Congress. For more information and help in understanding the new law, visit the Medicare Drug Coverage Center.
Analysis of Final Regulations and Guidance Governing the Medicare Drug Benefit
On January 21, 2005, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the final regulations for Title I of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), which covers Medicare's drug benefit. This document summarizes the portions of the regulations that are most relevant to consumers' access to services, highlighting some concerns with the final regulations. It should help advocates prepare for implementation of the drug benefit, which is set to start on January 1, 2006. Click here to see the analysis.
On March 16, CMS published two guidances for Medicare Part D drug plans. The first guidance outlines requirements that plans must follow when providing a transition process for individuals who are stabilized on medications that are not covered by their Medicare drug plan. The second guidance is supposed to ensure that long-term care residents have access to the drugs they need through Part D. Families USA found both guidances to be inadequate, leaving far too much to the discretion of the drug plans. Furthermore, the long-term care guidance did not take into consideration the unique needs of long-term care residents. Although there was no formal comment period for either guidance, Families USA submitted comments to CMS. Click here to read Families USA's comments.
Coordinated Response to Medicare Drug Law Proposed Regulations and Formulary Guidance
- Medicare Drug Law Proposed Regulations
Click here to see the comments submitted by the Medicare Consumers Working Group to proposed regulations for MMA Title I and MMA Title II.
- Proposed Formulary Guidance
Click here to see comments on formulary guidance: Families USA, as part of The Medicare Working Group, submitted comments on CMS's proposed guidance for reviewing the benefit structures and formularies of Part D plans. The comments were submitted on December 30, 2004 and were signed by 39 organizations.
Gearing Up for the New Medicare Law
Gearing Up: States Face the New Medicare Law Is Your State Ready for 2006? is an introduction to what the new Medicare Part D prescription drug Benefit means for Medicaid (September 2004)
Bills Introduced in Congress Aimed at Changing the New Medicare Law
Several bills have been introduced in the House and Senate aimed at changing the new Medicare law. Families USA has prepared a series of documents to help you keep track of all this legislation. Click here for a list of Senate and House bills. Click here for a chart showing House bills and their sponsors; click here for a chart showing Senate bills and their sponsors.
The Medicare Road Show
Click here for Road Show materials, the Walter Cronkite video, and more.
The History Behind the Final Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
During the summer of 2003, the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives considered major changes to the Medicare program. Congress eventually passed a new Medicare prescription drug bill in November, and the President signed it into law on December 8, 2003. Medicare Central pulled together information on the history and development of the bill as well as analyses and comments from a range of Medicare advocates.
Click on the links below to learn more about the proposals and issues that were discussed before the passage of the bill.
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