Below are links to resources about the Medicare Rx / Part D prescription drug program.
° HRSA and how part D pertains to HIV and Ryan White

° HIV Medicine Association PDF file – an enrollment toolkit specifically for HIV/AIDS

° Official web site for people with Medicare from the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

° Download file PDF FAQ Sheet from the Texas Department of State Health Services

° Link to the Texas HIV Medication Program home page. They will have updates regarding MCR part D.

° DSHS – THMP presentation on Medicare Part D – by THMP Manager Dwayne HaughtDownload file PDF

° DSHS - Medicare Part D manual and FAQ

° HRSA CARE Action Newsletter from October 2005 includes some good information regarding the program, visit http://hab.hrsa.gov/publications/october2005/

° Some patients have experienced problems in obtaining medications at the pharmacy due to computer problems. A list of “what-if” scenarios has been compiled. The PDF can be downloaded here.

° The Treatment Access Expansion Project has provided a list of resources for HIV and Medicare Part D.

° Texas Medicare Rx – a web site specifically for Texas residents and Medicare Part D issues.

° Texas HHSC press release announcing the decision for the Texas Medicaid to continue to fill prescriptions for dual eligibles that are having trouble filling perscriptions under their new Part D plan.

° A Word document that has many links to Medicare websites and publications Download file

° Case Manager Talking Points from NASTAD

° Case manager training and presentations on February 13, 2006

° 03.22.06 The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services are adding 1.2 Million additional people automatically to the prescription drug program, Part D. Read the CMS Announcement

° 04.26.06 CMS issues policy to protect beneficiaries from changes to a drug plan formulary. A drug plan could change its forumlary with 60 days notice to a beneficiary, but the person would be stuck with the plan until the next open enrollment period. The policy now says “No beneficiaries will be subject to a discontinuation or reduction in coverage of the drugs they are currently using.” It says an insurer can remove a drug from its formulary, increase copayments for a drug or impose new coverage restrictions “only if enrollees currently taking the affected drug are exempt from the formulary change for the remainder of the plan year.”
See the articles at Kaiser Family Foundation or NY Times

° 05.31.06 This is an update from DHHS-CMS. The key messages:
° If you serve Medicare patients, you need to obtain a National Provider Identifier;
° For FQHCs and RHCs that serve Medicare patients where Medicare Advantage (managed care) plans are available to patients in your area, there are steps you must take to continue receiving reimbursement for serving them;
° If you offer pharmacy services to Medicare patients, you need to sign contracts with Medicare Part D plans to obtain reimbursement;
° If you offer pharmacy services, you can save up to 77% on drug and supply costs by signing up with 340B and the Prime Vendor.
Download file PDF

° 06.12.06 The HIV Medication Association (HIVMA) published their last newsletter with an article about exceptions and appeals for Medicare Part D. Download file PDF – this is the page taken from the Spring 2006 HIVMA newsletter. It has some very good information about the appeals and exceptions process.

° 08.03.06 The Kaiser Family Foundation Published a new report: The Role of Part D for People With HIV/AIDS: Coverage and Cost of Antiretrovirals Under Medicare Drug Plans. Visit the web site to download a free PDF of the report.