Implementing the Medicare drug benefit in a diverse inner-city community.
OBJECTIVE
An integrated effort to maintain continued access to pharmacy services and prescribed medications for patients in an inner-city community before and during the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit is described.


CONCLUSIONS
An academic medical center and college of pharmacy in a culturally diverse, inner-city Chicago community created a strategy to provide uninterrupted pharmacy services to all of their Medicare Part D eligible patients, particularly those dual eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, during the transition from Medicaid to Medicare Part D, effective January 1, 2006. The percentage of dual-eligible patients in the Medicare Part D eligible population at the institution was more than twice the national average. A task force was created to prepare for the onset of Medicare Part D. The task force had goals in three areas: education, outreach, and operations; it was also responsible for the development of a contingency plan for any problems that could happen after January 1. A Medicare drug benefit consult service was formed to ensure that Medicare eligible patients understood the Medicare drug benefit and received customized assistance. Although problems were encountered, the investment in the preparation and implementation of the Medicare drug benefit, especially the consult service, resulted in a positive return on the institution's investment. Suggestions for other institutions facing the challenge of the implementation of the Medicare drug benefit are provided.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementing a federal-level program among a diverse subset of patients is challenging and requires concerted efforts from health care providers and support from the institution. The Medicare drug benefit task force at the institution assumed responsibility for all pharmacy activities related to Medicare Part D and achieved its goals in education, outreach, and operations. This resulted in continued access to pharmacy services and prescribed medications for patients.
Stubbings
Joann
J
Research and Public Policy, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Services, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. jstubbin@uic.edu
Durley
Sandra F
SF
Lin
Swu-Jane
SJ
Kliethermes
Mark
M
Aruru
Meghana Desai
MD
Evangelista
Christina
C
Byun
Margaret
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D026683:Advisory Committees; D000368:Aged; D002641:Chicago; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007342:Insurance Benefits / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid; D006278:Medicare / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population