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…
Designing a Medicare Drug Discount Card: Implications of Policy Choices for Medicare Beneficiaries and Plan Sponsors October 30, 2003 Report This report analyzes key issues surrounding the implementation of a Medicare-endorsed prescription drug discount card program. Medicare prescription drug discount cards have been proposed as a short-term strategy for lowering prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. The report considers the implications for both discount card sponsors and beneficiaries of alternative…
Out-of-Pocket Cost-Sharing Obligations for Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Under the House and Senate Prescription Drug Bills September 29, 2003 Issue Brief This issue paper provides information on the out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs that low-income individuals would face under the Senate versus the House Medicare prescription drug benefit legislation. Issue Paper (.pdf)
Serving Low-Income Families Through Premium Assistance: A Look At Recent State Activity September 29, 2003 Issue Brief This issue paper examines the policies in the HIFA waiver initiative that provide incentives for states to use Medicaid/SCHIP funds to assist in the purchase of private insurance options. It also reports on how states have responded to these new policies and what key policy questions are raised about premium…
The Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health Medicare Prescription Drug Survey – Toplines September 2, 2003 Poll Finding These toplines are part of a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health that examines public opinion on the Medicare prescription drug debate. The survey, a follow-up to a broader, more comprehensive survey released in June 2003 about the Medicare program and proposed changes, finds…
The Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard School of Public Health Medicare Prescription Drug Survey – Chartpack September 2, 2003 Report This chartpack is part of a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health that examines public opinion on the Medicare prescription drug debate. The survey, a follow-up to a broader, more comprehensive survey released in June 2003 about the Medicare program and proposed changes, finds…
A Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: Implications for Medicaid and Low-Income People August 30, 2003 Report The Senate and House of Representatives each approved legislation in June of 2003 that would establish outpatient prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries as part of Medicare program reform. Among the key differences in the House and Senate bills that still must be addressed are the treatment of Medicaid beneficiaries…
A Prescription Drug Benefit in Medicare: Implications for Medicaid and Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries August 30, 2003 Issue Brief The Senate and House of Representatives each approved legislation in June of 2003 that would establish outpatient prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries as part of Medicare program reform. Among the key differences in the House and Senate bills that still must be addressed are the treatment of Medicaid beneficiaries…
Kaiser Family Foundation/ Harvard School of Public Health Medicare Prescription Drug Survey August 30, 2003 Report A new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard School of Public Health examines public opinion on the current Medicare prescription drug debate. The survey, a follow-up to a broader, more comprehensive survey released in June 2003 about the Medicare program and proposed changes, finds that a majority of…
Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries: How the House and Senate Prescription Drug Bills Address Their Drug Needs August 30, 2003 Report The House and Senate versions of a Medicare prescription drug bill treat the drug costs of those dually-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and other low-income Medicare beneficiaries quite differently. The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured cosponsored a policy briefing on the key issues in the two bills that…