April 24, 2017 VIA ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION PartCDcomments@cms.hhs.gov Seema Verma, Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Department of Health and Human Services Baltimore, MD 21244 Re: … [Read more...] about Center Comments on Medicare Advantage and Part D “Transformation Ideas”
Medicare Part D / Prescription Drugs
Preview – 2017 Part D Standard Benefit & Other Threshold Amounts
Note: The amounts in this table do not apply to beneficiaries who have the Part D Low Income Subsidy (“Extra Help”) Annual Deductible Maximum $400 Initial Coverage … [Read more...] about Preview – 2017 Part D Standard Benefit & Other Threshold Amounts
The Center’s Long-Time Concerns Gain Attention
Prescription Drug Pricing An excellent and well-timed (given #Epi-gate) article appeared in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association discussing the reason drug costs are so high in the U.S. According to the article, the major … [Read more...] about The Center’s Long-Time Concerns Gain Attention
Medicare Part D and Off-Label Rx Denials
In the last 18 months, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, and other advocates around the country, have received many, many calls from older and disabled beneficiaries who can no longer obtain coverage for the Lidocaine Patch 5% from their Part D … [Read more...] about Medicare Part D and Off-Label Rx Denials
Federal Court Issues Favorable Off-label Part D Drug Coverage Decision
The Medicare Advocacy Project of Greater Boston Legal Services recently received a favorable decision from the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts for “off-label” coverage of the drug Dronabinol. This is a welcome development given … [Read more...] about Federal Court Issues Favorable Off-label Part D Drug Coverage Decision
Attention Patients and Prescribers of Part D Drugs
March 2016 Update: CMS is now delaying enforcement of the Part D Prescriber Enrollment Requirements until February 1, 2017. Nevertheless, prescribers of Part D drugs should submit their Medicare enrollment applications or opt-out affidavits to … [Read more...] about Attention Patients and Prescribers of Part D Drugs
Remove Barriers to Obtaining Medicare Covered Drugs
Low income racial and ethnic minority beneficiaries are adversely affected by prescription drug pricing, a problem that has a negative impact on overall Medicare program costs. A 2011 International Journal of Health Services study estimates … [Read more...] about Remove Barriers to Obtaining Medicare Covered Drugs
Office of Inspector General Authorizes Hospitals to Discount or Waive Certain Drug Charges for Patients Classified as “Outpatients”
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a statement on October 30, 2015 that advises hospitals that it will not administratively sanction them if they discount or waive charges for an … [Read more...] about Office of Inspector General Authorizes Hospitals to Discount or Waive Certain Drug Charges for Patients Classified as “Outpatients”
Assistance with Paying for Prescription Drugs
This page focuses on programs that help Medicare beneficiaries acquire necessary medications, although many of the programs discussed are not limited to that population. Many Americans who are still feeling the effects of the recession are … [Read more...] about Assistance with Paying for Prescription Drugs
Department of Health and Human Services Forum on Drug Pricing and Innovation
On November 20, 2015, Center staff attended a one day symposium hosted by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) entitled “HHS Pharmaceutical Forum: Innovation, Access, Affordability & Better Health.” The … [Read more...] about Department of Health and Human Services Forum on Drug Pricing and Innovation