Medicare Drug Program (Medicare Part D)

Health & Medicine for Senior Citizens

More Enhanced Online Tools by Insurance Broker to Help Seniors Select Medicare Plans

Health Plan One says it has also added more information on types of Medicare health insurance available

Dec. 15, 2008 – Joining the growing list of insurance marketers to provide enhanced online tools to help senior citizens find the Medicare plans that best suit their needs is Health Plan One. The company says it also expanded its education section to provide more detailed information on the types of Medicare health insurance plans available. Read more...

Senior Citizens Have Until December 31 to Make Changes in Medicare Coverage

Health plan costs are going up in 2009 and changing plans could save big money says Medicare Interactive

Dec. 11, 2008 – In the wild rush to the holidays, senior citizens should not forget that the door is open to make changes in Medicare – health plans or drug plans - until the end of the year. Read more...

JAMA Study Say Generic Drugs Match Brand-Names for Treating Cardiovascular Disease

Many senior citizens perplexed: scientific analysis favors generics, commentaries lean toward brand names

Dec. 2, 2008 – The surge of generic drugs to hit the market in the last few years and the plunge in prices led by Walmart has attracted many senior citizens to these prescription drugs. Yet, for many, there has been a nagging doubt of their potency – how could a drug that costs only $4 per month do the same thing as the one that was costing $80 a month. Read more...

Medicare Drug Program News

Kaiser Family Foundation Can Help Seniors Get It Right in Choosing Medicare Drug Plan

Economic crisis puts emphasis on senior citizens making cost-effective choice for 2009

Nov. 24, 2008 – The news media are filled with stories about the dire situation for many senior citizens being created by the economic crisis in the U.S. One thing they do is emphasize the importance that seniors get it right on the Medicare drug plan, as they contemplate changes during this open enrollment period that began on November 15 and is open through the last day of the year. One source worth checking that provides helpful information is the Kaiser Family Foundation. Read more...

Vast Majority of Senior Citizens Do Not Understand Donut Hole in Medicare Drug Program

Medco offers free guide - ‘What's Your Gap? Three simple steps to make the most of your Medicare Part D coverage and delay the Coverage Gap’

Nov. 18, 2008 – If you are still confused about the coverage gap – or donut hole – in the Medicare Part D drug program, don’t feel dumb or alone. Nearly two-thirds of senior citizens covered by the program don’t understand it, although, it is a key part of the program and can lead to devastating unexpected drug costs. Read more...

Medicare Opens Window for Senior Citizens to Change Drug Plans; Closes End of Year

Seniors with limited resources may be eligible for extra help to pay monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments

By Oscar Garcia
Public Affairs Specialist, Social Security Administration

Nov. 17, 2008 - The open season for enrollment in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program opened on November 15 and will run to December 31. Newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries and current beneficiaries, who are considering changes to their Medicare Part D plan, can do so during this period. Read more...

Half the Senior Citizens in Medicare Drug Plans Could Have Saved Money with Better Choice

CVS/pharmacy joins National Council on Aging to assist seniors in finding best plan for 2009

Nov. 13, 2008 – Half of the senior citizens in the Medicare Drug Program would have saved over $250 this year, if they had done a better job of selecting a plan that fit their situation. It least that is what is indicated in a survey by CVX/pharmacy. The drug retailer has joined forces with the National Council on Aging to assist and encourage seniors to take the time to find the best plan possible during this open enrollment period. Read more...

Private Website Releases Online Tool Showing Changes in Medicare Part D Plans for 2009

PD-Compare only such tool freely available to the public, says Medicare-PartD.com

Nov. 13, 2008 – Medicare’s Open Enrollment period opens on November 15 and millions of senior citizens are concerned about changes their current Part D drug plan and will be seeking better options. A helpful tool may be “PD-Compare,” an online service from Medicare-PartD.com that helps seniors visualize plan changes in features such as monthly premiums, donut coverage, co-payments, and deductibles. Read more...

Medicare Tightens Compensation Rules for Selling Medicare Advantage, Drug Plans

Industry spokesperson commends CMS on guidelines for agent and broker commissions

Nov. 11, 2008 - Still trying to cure the problems in the marketing of the private company Medicare Advantage plans, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) yesterday issued revised requirements limiting compensation for sales agents and brokers who sell MAs and prescription drug benefit plan options to people with Medicare. Read more...

Medicare Open Enrollment Just 5 Days Away; Seniors Shocked at Drug Plan Price Increases

Lois Fitzpatrick and husband, Ken, are preparing to deal with an 85 percent increase in the monthly premium for her Medicare drug plan that will come next year. Read report by Kansas City Star

CMS urging senior citizens to start their research now to save on costs in 2009; two private companies join forces to offer plans online

Nov. 10, 2008 – Medicare Open Enrollment – the window that opens each year for senior citizens to make changes in their Medicare programs – opens in five days on November 15. The attention is on the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program, where many seniors are finding their old plans have changed drastically and they are facing large cost increases in 2009. Read more...

Medicare Drug Plan Data for 2009 Now Available Online for Senior Citizens to View Options

Open enrollment is Nov. 15 through Dec. 31 – Links below to key information at Medicare


	Links below story to Medicare

Oct. 10, 2008 – The data on the Medicare Part-D prescription drug plans for 2009 has now been loaded into the computers and senior citizens can begin exploring their options for the new year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has been relentless in warning seniors that the cost of their current plan may increase significantly in 2009 and it is important they explore all the options, including other drug plans or Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage. (See below story for help in finding information at Medicare) Read more...find links to Medicare data

More Than a Million Low-Income Seniors Being Moved to New Medicare Drug Plans

Avalere Health says low-income beneficiaries will again see choices shrink in 2009

Oct. 9, 2008 – More than 1.3 million low-income senior citizens will find themselves automatically reassigned to new drug plans for 2009, according an analysis by Avalere Health, which says there will be fewer options for low-income Medicare beneficiaries trying to choose a Part D drug plan. Avalere notes this is a trend that has increased every year since the drug benefit began. Read more...

Senior Citizen May Get a Shock When They See Medicare Drug Plan Premiums for 2009

Medicare administrator urges every senior to check their plan and other options

By Tucker Sutherland, editor, SeniorJournal.com

Oct. 8, 2008 – Senior citizens may be in for a big surprise if they just renew their Medicare Part D drug plan this year, without checking the details – like the premium, co-pays and deductibles. The cost for 2009 may be substantially higher than it was in 2008. This seemed to be the message being delivered today by Kerry Weems, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in a telephone news conference. Read more...

Senior Citizen Opinions & Analysis

Medicare has Created Wild West Marketplace, Older Americans Ripe for Exploitation

President of Medicare Rights Center on choice of prescription drug and Medicare health plans for 2009

By Robert M. Hayes, President, Medicare Rights Center

Sept. 26, 2008 - Once again, all across the country, people with Medicare will face for 2009 a bewildering choice of nearly 50 prescription drug plans and over 40 Medicare health plans, including HMOs, PPOs, and private fee-for-service plans of every variety. It is a Wild West marketplace and older Americans are ripe for exploitation. Read more...

Medicare Drug Program News

Average Medicare Drug Plan to Cost $3 More in 2009 but Lower Price Options Available to Most

National average monthly premium for basic drug benefit in 2009 projected to average $28; Medicare Advantage available to all

Sept. 25, 2008 - The average monthly premium for a Medicare Part D stand-alone prescription drug plan will jump about $3 in 2009 to $28. But, Medicare say, about 97 percent of senior citizens will have access to drug and health plans in 2009 whose premiums would be the same or less than in 2008. It may, however, mean changing plans, according to an announcement today by Medicare of drug plan and Medicare Advantage options for 2009. Read more...

One of Four Seniors Who Used Medicare Drug Program in 2007 Fell into ‘Donut Hole’

Many who fell in just stopped taking their prescription drugs

Sept. 21, 2008 – With senior citizens beginning to consider their options in the Medicare Prescription Drug Program for 2009, the Kaiser Family Foundation has released a new study that shows many seniors just tend to stop taking their prescription drugs, when they hit the gap, or “donut hole,” where there is no coverage. The study of data from 2007 also shows one in four (26 percent) Part D enrollees who filled any prescriptions in 2007 did reach the coverage gap. Read more...

New Help for Seniors to Find Better, Wiser Drug Deals Online Provided by Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Generic Statin Use Jumps 8% to 53%

After generic for Zocor was introduced, Express Scripts combined incentives with "an advanced and aggressive communications program" to increase the ratio of consumers who used generic statin from 8% to 53.2%.

Offering tools to find low-cost generic drugs, adhere to drug regimens and increase consumer choice

Sept. 18, 2008 – The skyrocketing cost of health care seems to be slowing a bit and an obvious contributor is lower cost that senior citizens and others are finding for prescription drugs – generic drugs, in particular. A driving force in this trend are pharmacy benefit managers, which can increase their profits by helping consumers find lower priced drugs. Read more...

Few of Marketing Materials Used by Private Drug Plans Meet Medicare Guidelines

Report by HHS says Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave faulty instructions

Sept. 5, 2008 - Nearly 85% of the marketing materials used by private prescription drug plans to reach Medicare beneficiaries do not fully meet CMS guidelines, according to a report released Thursday by the HHS Office of Inspector General, CQ HealthBeat reports. The report found that CMS provided the drug providers with faulty sample documents on which they were to base their marketing materials. Read more...

Many Older Adults Cannot Find Most Beneficial Prescription Drug Plan on Medicare Website

Well-educated adults with computer experience had difficulty using the Medicare.gov Website in Florida study

Aug. 20, 2008 - About three-fourths of older adults with basic computer skills could not find the most beneficial prescription drug plan on the Medicare Web site, and could not take the necessary steps to enroll to receive home health care services, according to a study published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. Read more...

Average Monthly Cost of Basic Medicare Drug Plan to Jump $3 in 2009, Says CMS

Jump to $28 per month based on trends in drug costs, new catastrophic cost estimates

Aug. 20, 2008 - The average monthly premium that senior citizens should expect to pay for standard Medicare Part D coverage in 2009 will be $28, which is about $3 higher than this year but 37 percent lower than was projected back in 2003. As the drug program enters its fourth year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, says this projection is based on plan bids that reflect nationwide price trends. Read more...

Seniors Being Hit Hard by Unexpected 16 Percent Increase for Top Medicare Drug Plans

AARP MedicareRx Saver raised its average premiums from $14.43 in 2007 to $26.56 in 2008, an 84% increase, according to Avalere Health

June 5, 2008 – Gasoline prices, food prices – everything is going up. Senior citizens, however, are being quietly hit by a gigantic surprise in the form of a premium increase in their Medicare prescription drug plan, despite claims by the administration in January that prices were lower for 2008. Instead, average monthly premiums for enrollees in the 10 most popular Medicare prescription drug plans (PDPs) increased by 16% in 2008, according to new enrollment weighted analysis of Part D data released today by Avalere Health. Read more...

CMS Says New Regulations Will Better Protect Seniors in Advantage and Drug Plans

Proposal tightens marketing rules, protects from inappropriate cost sharing

May 8, 2008 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says in a news release today that it will propose new regulations and new requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans and Medicare prescription drug plans. The CMS statement says the actions will provide "enhanced protections" for senior citizens enrolled in these plans. Read more...

Medicare Part D Has Helped More Seniors Take Their Meds, But Sickest Most Likely to Skip

Many older Americans do not have a good understanding of the complicated program

April 22, 2008 - A new study shows Medicare Part D, the prescription drug program, is still not well understood by many senior citizens, which may be a key reason there are still seniors skipping their medications due to the cost, which another study finds. The percentage of seniors guilty of this "cost-related medication nonadherence," referred to as "CRN," has decreased but not as much as hoped among the sickest beneficiaries. Read more...

Medicare News

Medicare Advantage Plans to Get More Subsidy, Drug Plans Get Higher Deductible

CMS to pay 3.6% more to MA plans, drug deductible goes to $295 from $275 in 2009

Read complete Fact Sheet below news report.

April 9, 2008 – The subsidy paid by Medicare to Medicare Advantage Plans will increase by 2.6% next year, despite consistent opposition by advocacy groups and Democrats to this subsidy, according to an a Fast Sheet published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Monday. And, the drug plan providers also got a small boost in the form of higher deductibles for prescription drug plans next year. Read more...

Medicare Says New Rule Supports More Generics, Less Drug Danger, Better Communications

Rule establishes Part D e‑prescribing standards for four types of information

April 4, 2008 – Senior citizens and others eligible to enroll in Medicare’s prescription drug program are expected to experience greater safety, increased use of lower-cost generic drug equivalents, and better communication between their doctor and pharmacy as a result of a new regulation issued yesterday, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Read more...

Insurers Save Money with Co-Pays, Caps on Drugs But Patients Endangered

Patients skip life-sustaining drugs, and those for chronic conditions

By Randy Dotinga, Contributing Writer
Health Behavior News Service

Feb. 13, 2008 - A new review of existing research suggests that co-pays and caps on drug expenditures could keep crucial medications out of the hands of those who need them. Read more...

Medicare Says Projected Cost of Part D Drug Program Continues to Drop

Survey finds 85% were aware of open enrollment period, over 66% reviewed their current plan for cost and coverage changes

	25.4 million in Part D
	Overall, about 90 percent of the nation’s 44 million Medicare beneficiaries have drug coverage from Medicare or another source.

Jan. 31, 2008 – Medicare today issued another news release touting the drop in the cost of the prescription drug program from what it had earlier projected. The release said the “projected cost of providing Medicare beneficiaries with a prescription drug benefit through private health plans has come down again,” and cited the administration’s FY 2009 budget, which will be released next week, as the source. Read more...

What to Do When You Realize Your Medicare Drug or Health Plan Does Not Meet Your Need

Information on drug and health plans provided by Medicare Rights Center – see links below article

Jan. 4, 2008 – Sometimes, after you picked the Medicare private health or drug plan that you thought best suited your needs, you discover in the New Year that the plan you chose doesn’t work for you at all. Perhaps you’ll find that your doctor or specialist isn’t part of the plan’s network. Maybe you’ll discover that there are large copays for a hospital stay or diagnostic procedures. Or maybe when you go to the pharmacy, you’ll find out that your drug plan doesn’t cover your medications. Read more...

Medicare Expects Transition to New Drug Plans to Go Smoothly for Senior Citizens

Medicare Advantage enrollment open until March 31, 2008

Jan. 4, 2008 - Senior Citizens who have chosen to change their health and drug coverage for 2008 should experience very few difficulties when getting their covered prescription drugs through Medicare Part D, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced. The CMS has taken multiple steps to ensure that pharmacies can obtain accurate enrollment information in 2008, particularly for low-income beneficiaries. Read more...

Senior Citizens Smarter About Medicare Plans in Closing Days of Open Enrollment

Largest marketer of Medicare drug programs says their new tools help

Dec. 28, 2007 – In the closing days of Medicare's open enrollment period, when senior citizens can make changes to their health plans, the largest provider of Part D prescription drug plans is finding seniors much more knowledgeable about the program. The deadline for changes is December 31. Read more...

Make Your Medicare Program Changes Now for Big Savings in 2008

Deadline is Dec. 31 for making changes in Medicare drug program

Dec. 27, 2007 – Lack of action by some senior citizens in the next very few days could prove extremely costly. Senior citizens have through the last day of this year to change their Medicare health coverage. For example, there may be prescription drug plans available that can provide larger savings, because your needs have changed or the plans in your area have changed. In fact, the plan you have today may be much different next year. Read more...

New Online Tool Claims One-Click Comparison of Medicare Drug Plans

Broker sponsored site says tool compares plan quality ratings, popularity, features

Dec. 10, 2007 - There is a new tool online at Medicare-PartD.com, which offers a “unique one-click comparison” of the 2008 Part D prescription drug plans. The site sponsored by National Insurance Markets, an insurance broker, calls the new tool “PDP-Compare.” Read more...

Two Million Dual Eligibles Being Moved to New Medicare Drug Plans

Avalere Health analysis of large dual eligible population in Texas

Dec. 5, 2007 - Over 2 million dual eligibles (eligible for Medicaid and Medicare) must switch Medicare Part D plans for 2008 because many plans with robust dual eligible enrollment in 2007 submitted premium bids that exceed certain states’ low-income subsidy benchmarks for 2008, according to Avalere Health, which analyzed the situation in Texas and found many of the state’s lowest income residents will find themselves randomly re-assigned into less generous Medicare Part D plans. Read more...

Senior Citizens Not Reviewing Medicare Drug Plans May Get Shock in 2008

Medicare has cut 1,500 drugs from last year’s list eligible for formularies

"Changes are occurring at all levels of the Medicare drug benefit – from significant movements in monthly premiums, to the composition and copayment structure of formularies."

Dec. 5, 2007 – The evidence continues to be exposed showing senior citizens are facing major changes in the Medicare drug plans for 2008, including news that the largest stand-alone plans will reduce the drugs they cover by the hundreds. A major reason, says consulting company Avalere Health, is that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decided to drop more than 1,500 drug codes from last year’s list of formulary-approvable drugs, including some that lack FDA approval. Read more...

Senior Citizens Seeking New Medicare Drug Plan Finding Fewer Drugs Covered

Size of the formulary is becoming more aligned with utilization patterns, consumer preferences, health outcomes and value for consumers, says Humana

Dec. 4, 2007 – While shopping around for a new Medicare drug plan, many senior citizens may be getting a shock to find many drugs no longer covered. A new analysis finds a gigantic drop in the number of drugs covered in 2008. What is called the “Open Enrollment” period, a time when seniors can change drug plans, opened on Nov. 15 and closes on Dec. 31. Seniors are advised to also check their existing plan to see if drugs they need have been dropped. Read more...

Drug Costs Threaten to Crack Retirement Nest Eggs, Tarnish Golden Years

One in three retirees say medical, drug costs far outpace expectations, takes 10% of income for 25% - Medco offers free help

Nov. 27, 2007 - Medical and drug expenses threaten to shatter the retirement nest egg – scrambling even the best-laid financial plans – according to a new nationwide survey of retirees, many of whom concede that their under-estimation of the impact of escalating health care costs has significantly compromised their lifestyle in the “golden years.” Read more...

Suit Filed to Lift Medicare Ban on Off-Label but ‘Necessary Drugs’

Medicare Rights Center says many with Medicare better off before the drug benefit

Nov. 26, 2007 - The Medicare Rights Center filed suit in federal district court today, asking a judge to declare unlawful the Bush Administration’s refusal to allow Medicare coverage of a broad range of medically necessary “off-label” drugs - those not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the specific use prescribed. Read more...

New York Times Examines Medicare Drug Benefit's Doughnut Hole Coverage Gap

Some see a positive in the doughnut hole because it steers senior citizens to lower-cost generic drugs

Daily Reports

KaiserNetwork.org

Nov. 26, 2007 - The New York Times on Saturday published two articles examining the so-called "doughnut hole" coverage gap of the Medicare prescription drug benefit. In 2008, the coverage gap will take effect when beneficiaries' total drug costs reach $2,510. Beneficiaries then will be responsible for paying 100% of drug costs until total costs reach $5,726, when catastrophic coverage kicks in. Summaries of the articles appear below. Read more...

Medicare Launches Online Tools to Better Compare Prescription Drug Plans

Website also includes tool that addresses the "doughnut hole" coverage gap

Nov. 15, 2007 - The open enrollment period for the Medicare prescription drug benefit began on Thursday, and CMS has established a new online tool to help with the comparison of plans, the Wall Street Journal reports. Read more...

New Ratings of Medicare Advantage Plans Kicks Off Enrollment Period for Drug Program

Campaign also features outreach to low-income subsidy, more tools

Nov. 15, 2007 – The official kick-off of Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period – the annual time for senior citizens to make enrollment changes in their health and prescription drug coverage for 2008 - was officially announced today by Health and Human Services as the window opens for 45 days. Starting today, too, www.medicare.gov will provide beneficiaries with the five-star ratings of the quality and performance of plans that offer Part C and Part D services. Read more...

There are No Bargains in Part D Prescription Drug Plans: Center for Medicare Advocacy

CMA takes a detailed look at the drug program as open enrollment begins Nov. 15

Nov. 14, 2007 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) declared victory for Medicare Part D, in an August press release, claiming that the average premium of $25 was nearly forty percent (40%) lower than had been predicted when the drug benefit was first enacted into law. The CMS Press Release, while accurate, does not tell the entire story. In 2008 most beneficiaries will be paying substantially more for their drug coverage, and many will be getting less coverage, according to the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Read more...

Senior Citizens Urged to Review Medicare Drug Plan Options as Window for Change Opens Thursday

Medicare Rights Center offering free tools, advice to help seniors make choices

Nov. 14, 2007 – The window opens tomorrow – Thursday, Nov. 15 – for senior citizens to make changes in their Medicare programs. The most vital change, for many, may be their drug coverage in Medicare Part D. Anyone who gets drug coverage through a Medicare private drug plan should review all of their drug plan choices for 2008 - even if they are satisfied with their current plan - because most drug plans will change their costs and benefits, according to the Medicare Rights Center. Read more...

Senior Citizens Get More Encouragement to Reconsider Medicare Drug Options

Time to make changes in Medicare begins Thursday, open until end of year

Nov. 13, 2007 – If you are reading this at SeniorJournal.com, you are most likely a senior citizen or someone carrying for an older adult. This means you should be getting your focus on the Medicare open enrollment period that opens Thursday. Increasingly senior advocates and the media are finding significant changes, particularly in many drug plans, and urging all seniors to look closely at what they have now and what alternatives are available. KaiserNetwork.org notes such a report from the Wall Street Journal, and highlights a "must-read" special section on the drug benefits in the Miami Herald. Read more...

Medicare's Open Enrollment Period Opens Thursday with More Confusion Than Ever

Nov. 12, 2007 – With the Medicare open enrollment period arriving on Thursday, more senior citizens and media reporters are looking at the drug plans available for 2008 and finding there may be more confusion that ever. A report in KaiserNetwork.org says three-fourths of senior citizens in stand-alone plays may see premium increases, while some plans are reducing fees. There is growing concern, too, about the difference in quality in Medicare Advantage plans and the swing to private fee-for-service plans. Most consumer advocates are advising senior citizens to take a close look at changes in their plan for 2008 and what else is available. Read more...

Medicare Part D Enrollment Season Offers Seniors Higher Costs, Confusion

Families USA analysis says no ‘Doughnut Hole’ protection available

Nov. 9, 2007 – A review of Medicare Part D prescription drug plans for 2008 reveals a startling fact, according to Families USA. It is now impossible for beneficiaries to purchase comprehensive protection for the “doughnut hole,” the yawning gap in Part D coverage where Medicare offers no assistance in paying for prescription drugs. Read more...

Drug Activity Slows Across U.S.-Canadian Border and at the FDA

Drug imports down 50%, FDA drug approvals down 18%

Nov. 5, 2007 – Once a hot issue, in particular for senior citizens, drug purchases by U.S. consumers from Canadian pharmacies dropped by about half in 2006 and the Medicare drug program is one obvious reason. Additionally, according to the daily Health Report by KaiserNework.org, the FDA is expected to approve only 18 new drugs in all of 2007. That’s a drop from 22 last year. Read more...

Medicare Part D Pushed Drug Prescriptions Up 158 Million, Gov Cost by $32 Billion

Oldest, poorest spending a much greater share of their own income on premiums and health services than others

Nov. 1, 2007 – The Medicare drug program (Part D) boosted the business of drug makers and pharmacists by 158 million prescriptions in 2006 and Medicare paid the bill of $32 billion, but a new study says the drug use and cost decrease to senior citizens was "relatively minor." Read more...

Medicare Consumer Groups, Legislators Call for Medicare-Operated Drug Plan

Advocates release report citing cost, instability, coverage gaps, fraud in Part D

Oct. 25, 2007 – Citing excessive costs, gaps in coverage, instability and fraud in a new report, two consumer groups this week called on Congress to give senior citizens and others covered by Medicare the option of a drug program through the Original Medicare program. Consumers Union and the Medicare Rights Center say this would eliminate the consumer exploitation that plagues the drug program run by private insurance companies. Read more...

Medicare Drug Plan Choices for 2008 Available Online October 11

Medicare says it has enhanced tools to help make better drug plan choices

Oct. 10, 2007 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that tomorrow senior citizens and other beneficiaries, as well as their caregivers, and family members, can begin to review 2008 Medicare prescription drug plan and health plan information online through the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder. Read more...

Medicare Part D Plans Owe Government $4 Billion from First Year Experience

Drug costs lower that companies anticipated; more generic drug use by senior citizens

Oct. 5, 2007 – Insurance companies that sponsored Medicare Part D drug plans in the first year of the program, 2006, owe $4 billion to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services due to lower-than-expected drug costs for that year. Actual drug costs for almost all Part D plans were below expected levels in their 2006 bids, said the CMS announcement today. Read more...

New FDA Program Aims at Making More Low-Cost Generic Drugs Available

Faster approval, more options for consumers, health professionals

Oct. 5, 2007 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday outlined a program aimed at increasing the number and variety of generic drug products available to consumers and health care providers. Generic drugs generally cost less than their brand-name counterparts and competition among generics has been a key factor in lowering drug prices, which can be critically important to senior citizens burdened with drug costs. Read more & Link to video...

Senior Citizens Should Check Which Medicare Drug Plans Hike Prices After You Enroll

Seniors can’t rely on drug prices companies list at beginning of year: Consumers Union wants changes

Oct. 2, 2007 – With Medicare’s open enrollment period opening on Nov. 15, senior citizens reconsidering their Medicare drug program choice should consider which companies tend to raise the prices on drugs after you enroll. Consumers Union’s latest sampling of Medicare prescription drug plans for 2007 again finds that most insurers hike the cost of their drugs during the year – in one extreme case by 28 percent. Read more...

Nine of Ten Senior Citizens Can Choose Lower Cost Medicare Drug Plan in 2008

Enrollment change period opens Nov. 15, ends Dec. 31 with chance to lower drug plan cost

Oct. 1, 2007 – When the open enrollment period opens for Medicare on Nov. 15, over 90 percent of senior citizens with stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans (PDP) will be able to choose at least one plan for 2008 with monthly premiums lower than they are paying now. Read more...

One month ago, the antifungal Lamisil had an average price of $337.26. The generic equivalent, terbinafine, is now available through Wal-Mart for just $4 for a commonly dispensed quantity up to a 30-day supply, saving customers $333.26 per prescription.

Wal-Mart Adds 11 Generic Drugs to Discounted Prescription Drug Program

Just in time as senior citizens fall into Medicare's doughnut hole

Sept. 28, 2007 - Just at a time when many senior citizens are falling into the Medicare drug program's doughnut hole, where their prescriptions are not covered, Wal-Mart Stores has announced new additions to its list of generic drugs that are available for just $4. There are now 361 drugs available in the program. Read more...

Senior Citizens May Stop Taking Critical Medicine When They Hit Doughnut Hole

Study finds they may not restart when the drug coverage resumes

Sept. 11, 2007 - Many senior citizens may just stop taking important drugs for chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, when they fall into the Medicare drug programs “doughnut hole” or reach spending limits in other drug plans. What is additionally disturbing is that many may not restart these life-saving drugs when their plan coverage restarts. Read more...

Medicare Drug Program Beats Nothing, but Not As Good as VA, Employer Plans

Large survey finds more seniors covered but some vulnerable to high costs

Aug. 21, 2007 – Senior citizens enrolled in Medicare Part D – the drug program – fared better than seniors without drug coverage, but not as well as those who relied on other coverage, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs or employer-sponsored coverage, according to a study released today. Read more...

Medicare Part D Premium for 2008 Shows Modest Increase to $25 for Drug Plans

Price held down by strong competitive bidding by drug plans and beneficiaries’ choices, says CMS

Aug. 14, 2007 – The monthly premium senior citizens will pay in 2008 for Medicare Part D – the prescription drug program - will be approximately $25, according to a news release from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that was released yesterday. The releases points out this is “nearly 40 percent lower than originally projected” in 2003, when the program was presented, and lower than CMS projected earlier this year. But, it is an increase over this year, which CMS says is “due primarily to technical adjustments." Editor's Note: See complete Fact Sheet on price increase from CMS below this news report. Read more...

Florida’s Publix Markets Will No Long Match Wal-Mart’s $4 Generic Drug Price

Will offer seven generic antibiotics at no cost, which some think risky

Aug. 9, 2007 - Florida-based Publix Super Markets on Wednesday announced it no longer will match a program by Wal-Mart that offers 30-day supplies of 143 generic drugs for $4 per prescription, the St. Petersburg Times reports. Publix said it now will focus on its antibiotics program (Bora, St. Petersburg Times, 8/9). Read more...

Medicare Drug Program Now Covers 90 Percent of Senior Citizens

U. Michigan study says the poor as likely as the rich to be covered

Aug. 9, 2007 - A report to be presented today will show that more than 90 percent of America’s senior citizens now have Medicare prescription drug coverage, up from just 75 percent in 2004. And, according to the University of Michigan analysis, poor seniors are as likely to have coverage as the rich. Read more...

Best Bet to Find Drug Covered by Medicare Part D Formulary is Go Generic

Study finds 90% of generics widely covered, just 6% of brand-name

June 19, 2007 – Millions of senior citizens have taken a prescription from their doctor to the pharmacy, only to find the drug is not covered by their Medicare Part D plan’s formulary. A new study suggests the best bet for seniors is to ask their physician to prescribe a generic - generic drugs were covered by 90 percent of formularies studied. Read more...

Medicare Payment Delays Driving Pharmacies Out of Business, They Say

Average 3 store closures per day in 2006, first year of drug program

June 14, 2007 – Senior citizens may be getting their drugs cheaper through Medicare Part D, but they may soon have problems finding a place to get their prescriptions filled. In 2006, on average, more than three community pharmacies closed everyday, as a result of slow reimbursement by Medicare during the first year of the prescription drug program, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association. Read more...

Out-of-Pocket Drug Cost for Average Senior More Than Doubled from '97 to '04

Drug spending jumped from $72 to $191 billion for all Americans not in confined care

May 18, 2007 – The cost of prescription drugs for the average senior citizen, not living in a care facility, increased 130 percent between 1997 and 2004 – growing from $819 to $1,914 in 2004. The average out-of-pocket costs for drugs climbed even faster – it more than doubled from $483 to $1,027. For all non-institutionalized Americans, spending on medications prescribed to outpatients jumped from $72 billion in 1997 to $191 billion in 2004. Read more...

Medicare Wastes Millions Assigning Low-Income Seniors to Costly Drug Plans

Consumer Unions says Medicare should seek ‘Best Value’ for 6 million seniors

May 17, 2007 - Medicare’s practice of randomly assigning low-income beneficiaries to prescription drug insurance plans is wasting millions in taxpayer dollars because seniors and those with disabilities are being placed in expensive plans when lower-cost, comparable plans are available, Consumers Union says. Read more..links to Congressional hearing testimony, Webcast....

Senior Citizen Health & Medicine

Diabetes Drug Spending May Surge 70% by 2010, Cancer Now Drives Specialty Drugs

Medco finds generics, Medicare Part D keeping increases down

May 17, 2007 – The amount of money Americans spend on treating diabetes could jump by 70 percent by the end of 2009, due to the aging population, obesity and more aggressive treatment. Diabetes treatment, however, does not come close to cancer drug costs, which is now the driving force in specialty drug spending increases. The good news is more generics and the Medicare drug program are holding down some costs. Read more...

Medicare Plan Prices of 10 Top Brand-Name Drugs Increased 6.8% Just Since December

Possible $17 billion in unanticipated prescription drugs costs for beneficiaries and taxpayers

Daily Reports

KaiserNetwork.org

May 14, 2007 - Prices under Medicare prescription drug plans for 10 of the most prescribed brand-name medications have increased 6.8% since December 2006, while wholesale prices for the same drugs have increased 3%, according to a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee report, the Washington Post reports. Previously, Medicare actuaries had projected that drug prices would increase by 7% over the entire year. Read more...

One of several problems that complicated enrollment of up to seven million dual eligibles

May 8, 2007 – Since the beginning of the Medicare drug program the "dual eligibles" have been of concern to Medicare advocacy groups, concerned that these senior citizens once provided drugs through Medicaid, would be lost in the transition to the new Medicare program. Now, a report by the Government Accountability Office says this concern was justified – 400,000 appear to have lost their coverage on some purchases. Read more...

April 13, 2007 – The Senate Finance Committee last night approved a final version of a bill that will allow, but not mandate, the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower drug prices in the Medicare prescription drug program. Read more...

April 11, 2007- SeniorCare, a program by the State of Wisconsin, that offered lower income senior citizens a much less costly drug program than Medicare Part D, is being shut down by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, according to a report by KaiserNetwork.org. CMS says it does not meet the requirement for saving federal money, but state officials disagree and say it is more efficient that Part D. Read more...

March 26, 2007 – AARP, a giant broker of insurance to senior citizens and other adults, was a strong supporter of the original Medicare drug program but has now decided it needs a major change. AARP is launching a media campaign aimed at getting lawmakers to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies, according to a report today by KaiserNetwork.org. Read more...

March 9, 2007 – A battle between two insurance companies providing Medicare drug plans is being investigated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and serves as an example of why many senior citizens are frustrated by the program. This year Humana changed its Humana PDP Complete plan by discontinuing coverage of brand name drugs for seniors in the doughnut hole. It also increased the monthly premium to $80 per month. Now, another provider, Sierra Health Services, says Humana has been urging their most costly customers to switch to SierraRx Plus. This plan is new and does offer coverage in the doughnut hole. Now, Sierra says it will close that plan at the end of the year, according to KaiserNetwork.org yesterday. Read more...

March 7, 2007 - The Medicare prescription drug benefit is "financially irresponsible," U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, head of the Government Accountability Office, said in a segment on CBS' "60 Minutes" this weekend, Reuters reports. Read more...

Consumer Union finds over a quarter of sample increased drug cost after seniors were 'locked in'

March 2, 2007 - A new report from Consumers Union - Seniors in Medicare Part D on Cost Rollercoaster - finds that it may be difficult – if not impossible – for Medicare beneficiaries to have confidence that their private Part D insurance plan will not change or increase prescription drug costs for the year they are locked into the plan. Read more...

Feb. 21, 2007 – The ability of senior citizens to buy drugs for less through Medicare Part D, slower growth in Medicaid, and slower growth in private health care spending will be the driving forces in a slight dip in the rate of growth for health care spending in the U.S. this year – the fourth consecutive year of slower growth. The 6.9 percent growth in 2005, will edge down to 6.8 percent in 2006, according to a report by Health Affairs. Still, however, the money American's spend for health care is expected to double in the next ten years. Read more...

Website, toll-free help line up for new GSK Access, program for low income Medicare Part D patients

Feb. 13, 2007 – Low-income and disabled senior citizens that need help with purchasing drugs in the Medicare drug program can now enroll with GSK Access online or call a toll-free help line. GlaxoSmithKline says enrollment online is open today at www.gsk-access.com. The program offers prescription medicines for free to eligible Part D-enrolled patients. Read more...

Feb. 12, 2007 - The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Friday held a hearing about how private insurance plans and pharmacy benefit managers negotiate prices with drug manufacturers for government prescription drug programs and whether these discounts get passed on to consumers, CQ HealthBeat reports. Read more...

Feb. 8, 2007 – Nearly 60 percent of the drugs being sold in the Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and the Medicare Advantage plans are generic drugs, according to new data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Read more...

January 31, 2007 – There are now 39 million Americans enrolled in the Medicare prescription drug program, which is an increase of 1.4 million since June of 2006, according to an announcement yesterday by Mike Leavitt, Secretary of Health & Human Services. Most, but not all, are senior citizens. Read more...

January 11, 2007 – With debate beginning today and a vote expected tomorrow on the Democratic proposal (HR 4) to have the Secretary of Health & Human services negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for better prices on drugs marketed through the Medicare drug program, a splash of cold water on the idea came in a letter from the Congressional Budget Office saying the drug prices would not be lowered by the legislation. Basically, Acting CBO Director Donald B. Marron said he doubted the government could do a better job that the prescription drug plans. (See CBO letter below news report.) Read more...

Some seniors may pay thousands of dollars more for medicines than others buying same drugs in other states

January 10, 2007 – Adding more confusion to the Medicare prescription drug program (Medicare Part D) is a new study that claims to find tremendous variation in what Medicare enrollees in different states pay for the same medications, even with the lowest-cost Part D plans. Read more...

January 8, 2007 – Immediately after the Bush Administration announced revised estimates that lower the expected cost of the Medicare drug benefit, Health & Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt says it proves there is no need for negotiated drug prices. The Medicare daily report by KaiserNetwork.org also finds problems with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services missing antifraud "compliance plans" from Medicare prescription drug plans. (The complete news release from HHS is below news report.) Read more...

January 8, 2006 – As Congress prepares to take action this week on the Democrats’ proposal to require Medicare to negotiate for lower prices from the drug companies (HR 4), a survey of news reports by KaiserNetwork.org finds doubters and critics grabbing the spotlight. Two items being most discussed are a portion of the bill that prohibits Medicare from using a preferred list of drugs and suggestions that the donut hole can be eliminated with savings from lower drug prices. Read more...

December 15, 2006 - Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Thursday at a briefing outlined priorities for Democrats in the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress and said they will seek to pass legislation that would require HHS to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies on the prices of medications under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, CQ HealthBeat reports. Read more...

December 11, 2006 – An overwhelming majority of Americans – Democrats, independents and Republicans - support Congressional action that will allow Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for senior citizens, according to a new poll released by the Kaiser Family Foundation. It is a pledge Democrats made in the recent congressional elections. Read more...

December 5, 2006 – Concern that low-income senior citizens will have trouble getting their medications next month, as they did in January of this year, is being voiced by pharmacists and advocacy groups, according to today's KaiserNetwork.org's daily report. It also reports that the Department of Veteran Affairs denies reports by Health & Human Services that veterans are leaving its program to sign up for drug coverage through Medicare. Read more...

November 29, 2006 – The biggest problem with the Medicare drug program has been the lack of coverage – with no lack of premium – for senior citizens when they fall into the "donut hole." This is when beneficiaries are responsible for 100% of prescription drug costs between $2,250 and $5,100, and still must pay monthly premiums. KaiserNet.org reports that to find plans that offer coverage in the "donut hole" at a reasonable cost will be even harder in 2007. Read more...

November 28, 2006 - About 288,000 low-income older and disabled Americans will be reassigned to new Medicare private drug plans beginning January 1, 2007, because their current drug plan’s premium is too high to qualify for full “Extra Help,” the federal subsidy which helps low-income people pay for Medicare drug coverage, according to the Medicare Rights Center. MRC is calling on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to act now to "avert a crisis" for these and other low-income beneficiaries facing steep increases and abrupt changes in drug coverage in the new year.