SAN DIEGO — Physicians will face many questions in the coming months about the new Medicare Part D voluntary prescription drug program, Elizabeth Carder-Thompson said at the annual meeting of the American Health Lawyers Association.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services posts informational resources on its Web site, and additional materials will become available over the next few months. The best resource at this time is the “Outreach Toolkit,” available by download or on CD-ROM, said Ms. Carder-Thompson, a lawyer with Reed Smith LLP.
The new coverage goes into effect Jan. 1, 2006, and the interim discount drug card program ends at that time, leaving Medicare beneficiaries to make fairly complicated choices within a short time.
There will be at least two Part D prescription drug plans available in each geographic area, and plans may include several subplans.
In October 2005, Part D plans will start to send marketing materials. CMS will distribute its “Medicare and You” handbook to all beneficiaries via mail, with a description of the new benefit. A “Plan Comparison Web Tool” and “Medicare Personal Plan Finder” will be posted at www.medicare.gov
Once Part D becomes effective, doctors will face a different set of concerns, she said. When a plan doesn't cover a prescribed drug, MDs must provide supporting statements to get an exception, but many details are not clear at this time.