title: Medicare Part D coverage and its influence on transplant patients' out-of-pocket prescription expenses.
abstract: Since Medicare is available for qualifying individuals because of age (65 years or greater), disability, or end-stage renal disease, many transplant recipients have Medicare coverage. Everyone who is entitled to Medicare will qualify to enroll in a Part D plan-a voluntary prescription drug coverage option offered by private insurance companies who meet the standards established by Medicare. The addition of Medicare Part D may help reduce out-of-pocket medication expenses for transplant recipients who have Medicare; however, the reality of utilizing Part D to maximize recipients' benefits is not simple, but rather complicated. The intricacies of Part D involve not only understanding premium costs and benefit stages, but formularies, and, particularly for transplant patients, deciphering how Medicare Part B immunosuppressant coverage influences Part D coverage. This article details significant information concerning Part D that transplant health care professionals should know in order to maximize patients' benefits and minimize their out-of-pocket medication expenses.
authors.affiliation: University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Augusta, GA, USA. mchishol@mail.mcg.edu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chisholm
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000191:economics; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics*; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014180:Transplantation
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents