Standard Medicare Drug Benefit, 2006 Chart November 1, 2003 Report Standard Medicare Drug Benefit, 2006Out-of-pocket drug spending for Medicare beneficiaries under the standard Medicare drug benefit described in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Chart (.pdf)
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)
Shifting the Cost of Dual Eligibles: Implications for States and the Federal Government October 31, 2003 Issue Brief This issue paper provides state-level estimates on spending on dual eligibles and illustrates the fiscal effects of scenarios where the federal government assumes the cost of prescription drugs, Medicare premiums, acute care, and long-term care for this population.Issue Paper (.pdf)
Coordinating Medicaid and Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage: Findings from a Focus Group Discussion with Medicaid Directors October 31, 2003 Report This publication reports on the findings from an October 26 focus group discussion with state Medicaid officials on the implications of a Medicare drug benefit for states and dual eligibles.Report (.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…
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…
How States Are Responding to the Challenge of Financing Health Care for Retirees September 2, 2003 Report State governments are an important source of health insurance coverage for retired state employees. Confronted with rising health care costs, budget deficits, and an overall downturn in the economy, this report describes how states are responding to the challenge of financing health care for retirees who tend to be sicker…
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…
