Medicare’s Disabled Beneficiaries: The Forgotten Population in the Debate Over Drug Benefits August 31, 2002 Report About 5 million Americans under age 65 qualify for Medicare coverage because they are totally and permanently disabled. They are more likely than the elderly to live in poverty, to be in poor health, and to experience difficulties living independently and performing basic daily tasks. A new study from The…
A Medicare Buy-In for the Near Elderly: Design Issues and Potential Effects on Coverage January 30, 2002 Report This report examines a Medicare-based approach to reducing the ranks of the uninsured that would permit early retirees between the ages of 62 and 65 to purchase coverage under Medicare. The paper begins with an overview of the challenges of insuring the near-elderly and explores the potential effects of a…
Dementia and Medicare Managed Care: A Growing Challenge for Health Plans February 1, 2000 Report The American Bar Association Commission on Legal Problems of the Elderly explored the views of Medicare HMOs on enrolling and delivering services to Medicare beneficiaries with dementia. The Commission conducted detailed interviews with professionals at eight diverse Medicare+Choice organizations. Their report provides background information on health care decision-making law and…
Retiree Health Coverage: Recent Trends and Employer Perspectives on Future Benefits October 1, 1999 Report The report, based on an analysis of Hewitt Associates' client database, presents new trend data on the prevalence of retiree health coverage sponsored by large employers and finds a continued erosion of retiree health benefits. The report also includes findings from a new survey assessing how large employers might change…
State Variation in Medicaid Pharmacy Benefit Use Among Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries February 28, 2002 Report This study examines Medicaid pharmacy benefit use and spending among beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid in 10 states by analyzing 1995 enrollment and claims data from a new 12-state database. The study finds that dual-eligibles are relatively high users of the Medicaid pharmacy benefit, with substantial variation in…
Prescription Drug Discount Cards: Current Programs and Issues January 31, 2002 Report As policymakers consider a range of approaches to providing prescription drug coverage to the Medicare population in today s tight budgetary environment, one proposal that has been put forth by the Bush Administration is that of a Medicare-endorsed prescription drug discount card program. This report describes the range of existing…
Dual Eligibles in Nursing Facilities and Medicare Drug Coverage November 1, 2003 Issue Brief This Briefing Note explores the issues presented for the design and administration of a new Medicare drug benefit by dually eligible nursing facility residents.Issue Paper (.pdf)
States’ Concerns About the Medicare Drug Debate and the Fiscal Impact of Shifting the Cost of Dual Eligible Care October 31, 2003 Issue Brief As the U.S. Congress continues to search for an agreement on the form of a Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Commission has two new reports related to the debate. One new publication reports on findings from an October 26 discussion with state Medicaid officials on the implications of a Medicare…
Money Follows the Person Medicaid Demonstration Program: Helping People Move Back Home February 25, 2013 Report This paper contains short profiles four Medicaid beneficiaries who have been helped by Money Follows the Person demonstration programs in Michigan and Washington state.
