Understanding the incomprehensible: a guide to the new Medicare prescription drug benefit for case managers.
Much of the health news over the last few months has centered on problems elderly patients encounter in obtaining and effectively using the prescription drug discount cards that became available on June 1 under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003. This article focuses on the next prescription drug newsmaker, Medicare Part D, that will supercede the discount cards on January 1, 2006. There are many complex issues that case managers must evaluate when assisting beneficiaries with queries about "what to do." This article attempts to clarify the "incomprehensible" twists and turns of these issues and provides access to a "Medicare Drug Prescription Benefit Calculator" that may assist the beneficiary and case manager in decision making. Case managers need to understand that there are many opposing viewpoints on this benefit, and it promises to become the subject of a major national debate. For this reason, substantial changes may occur prior to the launch of Part D. If you think discount drug cards are confusing, "you ain't seen nothin' yet!"
Marshall
Carter L
CL
Health Services Advisory Group, the Quality Improvement Organization for Arizona, USA. Clm7144@aol.com.
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