Making Medicare Part D Work Better for the Most Vulnerable. -May 6, 2008
CMS Finalizes New Standards For E-Prescribing in Drug Benefit Program. -April 3, 2008
CMS Rule Designed to Help Beneficiaries In Low-Income Groups Avoid Plan Switching. -April 1, 2008
In 2009 Call Letter CMS Postpones Deadline For Plans to Report on Electronic Prescribing. -March 20, 2008
Social Security Administration Warns 76,000 Beneficiaries of Drug Subsidy Loss. -March 18, 2008
Information about Beneficiaries No Longer Receiving Part D Low-Income Subsidy. -March 4, 2008
Medicare Drug Benefit Yields Modest Cuts In Spending, Better Utilization, Study Finds. -January 10, 2008
2008 Open Enrollment for Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare Advantage Plans Begins Today. -November 15, 2007
Part D Drug Benefit - Enrollees Report High Satisfaction With Medicare Rx Program, Survey Finds. -November 7, 2007
CMS Announces NEW Mailing - to people with Medicare who Receive Extra Help. -November 8, 2007
Enhanced Medicare Rx Plan Finder Updated With 2008 Data, CMS Says. -October 11, 2007
Means Test Sought for Medicare Drug Plan - Higher premiums and deductibles on upper-income seniors enrolled in Medicare's new prescription drug benefit is being pushed by the Bush administration. -October 9, 2007
Fewer Beneficiaries Losing Eligibility for Help But CMS Warns of Need to Return SSA Query. -September 24, 2007
Stark Acknowledges No Dramatic Part D Changes This Year - Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Fortney (Pete) Stark conceded at a hearing Thursday the best he could expect would be to make some improvements in health legislation. -June 23, 2007
Study Says Medicare Drug Plan Saves Cash - But it finds many are falling through cracks. -May 30, 2007
GAO Says Some Dual Eligibles Not Getting Reimbursement for Retroactive Rx Coverage. -May 9, 2007
Many Low-Income Seniors Don't Get Drug Benefit - While 6 million Medicaid beneficiaries were enrolled, only 2.2 million seniors and people with disabilities have qualified for low-income subsidies. -May 3, 2007
Study Says Mental Health Patients Unable To Get Full Access to Medicare Rx Plan Drugs. -May 2, 2007
Seniors Face Unstable Costs in Part D Consumers Union Says, Proposing Changes. -March 1, 2007
New Tip Sheet: Qualifying for Extra Help. -February 10, 2007
CMS News: No Medicare Part D Late Fee for Low-Income Enrollees, CMS Says. -January 9, 2007
Information Alert: Medicaid Prescription Drug Plan - Some Things You Are Stuck with, but Your Medicare Plan Isn't One of Them. -December 19, 2006
CMS Posts Updated Information on Patient Assistance Programs - Updated information has been posted regarding CMS policy with respect to patient assistance programs (PAPs). -December 13, 2006
Part D Special Enrollment Periods - In certain situations, people with Medicare may be eligible. -November 27, 2006
CMS Announces the Start of 2007 Open Enrollment - For Medicare Health and Drug Coverage & Plan Performance Metrics. -November 20, 2006
New Plan Performance Information Now Available on the Personal Plan Finder. -November 20, 2006
Medicare Open Enrollment for 2007 - A taped version of a conference call conversation with Acting Administrator Leslie Norwalk and partners is available now in the CMS Newsroom. -November 6, 2006
Medicare Part D Appeals Process Webcast Now Available - The webcast features Sara Rosenbaum who is a nationally-known expert on the coverage and appeals issues. -November 3, 2006
Medicare & You 2007 Handbook Now Available - To help people with Medicare review their coverage options and prepare to enroll in a new plan if they choose. -October 16, 2006
Medicare Proposes to Improve Care through Learning - CMS is seeking public input on a proposed regulation on using Medicare Part D claims data for research and quality initiatives to improve the healthcare of seniors and persons with a disability. -October 13, 2006
"McClellan Resigns!!" - An email blast from Dr. Mark McClellan, Administrator of the Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services, at the US Department of Health and Human Services announcing his resignation. -September 5, 2006
CMS Takes Steps to Correct Erroneous Plan Premium Refunds - CMS will provide a range of options to assure the refunds go toward beneficiary premiums while minimizing inconvenience for beneficiaries. -August 28, 2006
Kaiser Report: SHIPs Not Assisting Nursing Home Residents with Part D - LTCPA and other groups have repeatedly asked CMS to lift its prohibition on physicians, nursing homes, and pharmacists that provide info to nursing home residents in choosing and enrolling in a Medicare Part D drug plan. -August 24, 2006
New Tip Sheets from CMS - CMS has prepared two tip sheets related to the coverage gap that affects about 28% of people who have drug coverage with Medicare. -August 18, 2006
Improving Access to Care for Dually Eligible Beneficiaries - Improving Access to Integrated Care for Beneficiaries Who Are Dually Eligible For Medicare and Medicaid. -July 27, 2006
Medicare Fights Against New Schemes to Defraud Beneficiaries - Medicare beneficiaries warned to be aware of telephone scams surrounding new medicare drug benefit. -June 20, 2006
Waiver of the Late Enrollment Penalty for LIS and Katrina - CMS has announced a demonstration program allowing certain Medicare beneficiaries to enroll in a Medicare prescription drug plan with no penalty through December 31. -June 20, 2006
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Medicare Payment Case - The Supreme Court declined to hear a case in which some states sought to prevent the federal government from collecting money to cover part of the costs of the Medicare prescription drug law. -June 20, 2006
UCP Releases Medicare Guide for People with Disabilities - United Cerebral Palsy Releases Consumer Guide to Assist People with Disabilities Maximize Medicare Part D Drug Coverage. -June 9, 2006
The Drug Benefit: A Report Card - the new Medicare drug program shows mixed reviews. -June 6, 2006
CMS Releases Electronic Beneficiary Handbook "Your Medicare Rights & Protections" - This guide provides Medicare beneficiaries and their advocates with important information about their rights. -May 9, 2006
CMS Readiness for Enrollment Period Deadline - CMS issued a press release and fact sheet for beneficiaries today urging people with Medicare to enroll in the drug benefit right away, before the May 15th deadline rush. -May 8, 2006
CMS Issues Information on Medicare Part D SSA Premium Withholds - CMS has developed a set of materials that addresses beneficiary options for paying their Medicare prescription drug plan premium. -May 3, 2006
Medicare Rule Guarantees Continuity of Drugs - The Bush administration issued a new policy that protects Medicare beneficiaries against the sudden loss of coverage. -May 1, 2006
Many Seniors Unaware of Deadline for Medicare Drug Plan - Despite a nationwide campaign by government and private organizations, only 55% of seniors realize the deadline is May 15. -April 26, 2006
Many Seniors Unaware of Deadline for Medicare Drug Plan - Despite a nationwide campaign by government and private organizations, only 55% of seniors realize the deadline is May 15. -April 26, 2006
Part D Limited-Income Subsidy (LIS) Enrollment Opportunity - Medicare beneficiaries who qualify after May 15, 2006 for the limited-income subsidy (LIS). -April 21, 2006
End of the Initial Transition Period under Medicare Part D - A tip sheet for beneficiaries provides strategies for accessing needed medications. -April 5, 2006
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Enrollment Reconciliation all beneficiaries may change plans once between January 1 and May 15, 2006. -March 30, 2006
CMS Grants Hurricane Katrina Evacuees a Special Enrollment Period CMS will grant all Hurricane Katrina evacuees a special enrollment period (SEP) that gives them more time to change their Medicare prescription drug plans in 2006. -March 9, 2006
Medicare Prescription Drug Alert! Medicare Beneficiaries Urged to be on the Look-out for Phone Scams. -March 7, 2006
CMS March 1 Reminder: Plan for New Enrollees and Plan Switchers; Using Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Before Receiving a Drug Plan Membership Card. -March 3, 2006
News on Medicare Part D - Kennedy, Stabenow Propose Bill To Overhaul Medicare Rx Benefit. -March 2, 2006
Citizens' Health Care Working Group - US Congress created the Citizens' Health Care Working Group to provide a nationwide public debate about ways to improve the health care system. -February 28, 2006
Public Comments Call for Potential Policy Changes in CMS - CMS released for public comment four draft documents that contain potential policy changes for the CY 2007 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Prescription Drug programs. -February 25, 2006
New Fact Sheet on Drugs Covered by Medicare - Geared towards beneficiaries that explains what drugs Medicare Drug Plans cover. -February 24, 2006
Transition Fact Sheet - Plans would be extending the 30-day transitional drug coverage period. -February 23, 2006
HHS News - More Than 25 Million Medicare Beneficiaries Now Have Prescription Drug Coverage. -February 22, 2006
CMS Fact Sheet - CMS has recently released a new fact sheet that encourages early-in-month enrollments. -February 8, 2006
Medicare Part D Update - An update from the Medicare Rights Center which provides some good advice for those enrolled or considering enrollment in the Medicare Part D plan. -January 27, 2006
Drug Benefit Transition Resources - CMS has developed a chart of potential situations beneficiaries. -January 3, 2006
Enrollment in Medicare's New Prescription Drug Plan - Many potential beneficiaries remain unenrolled. -December 23, 2005
CMS Announces Newly Redesigned website. -December 16, 2005
CMS Signs Contracts to Ease Transition of Dual-Eligible Population in Rx Benefit with national providers to prevent drug coverage gaps for people eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare . -December 2, 2005
To Err Is Human, But Can We Forgive All These Mistakes? Problems with the Web Tool, results, Formulary Finder, and other general misinformation. -November 28, 2005
A National Day of Conversation - Friends and Family First. November 25, 2005 will be a national day of conversation about the new Medicare prescription drug coverage. -November 25, 2005
Consumer Guide Available to Assist People with Disabilities in Navigating Medicare Part D Drug Coverage. The guide 'Understanding Changes in Prescription Drug Coverage for People with Disabilities on Medicare' - [PDF]. -November
19, 2005
"Medicare Rx: A National Conversation." - A CMS produced thirty minute television program. [PDF] This show will air on both Saturday, November 19 and Sunday, November 20 from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. EST. -November 17, 2005
CMS MedicareRx Volunteers Available through VolunteerMatch The drug plan finder allows users to determine their current coverage and make a side-by-side comparison of plans. -November 15, 2005
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder Is Available The drug plan finder allows users to determine their current coverage and make a side-by-side comparison of plans. -November 14, 2005
CMS Mails Auto-Enrollment Letters to Dual Eligible Beneficiaries-[Word] Medicare beneficiaries who also receive Medicaid automatically qualify for Medicare's prescription drug coverage extra help. See the Enrollment Letter and Questions/Answers-[PDF] and the Introduction to the Auto-Enrollment Notice. -November 2, 2005
Guide to Medicare Part D for People with Developmental Disabilities an estimated half a million people with developmental disabilities will transition from Medicaid prescription drug coverage to Medicare's new prescription drug coverage. -October 2005
Scam Alert Officials and advocates for seniors were issuing warnings about what might go wrong as private insurers rev up sales efforts. -September 2005
Notice of Error in 'Medicare & You' 2006 Handbook CMS has identified an error in the printed area-specific versions of the 2006 version of the Medicare & You handbooks that are already being mailed to beneficiaries. -September 2005
Notice of Errata - [PDF]
Resources and Strategies for outreach to people with Medicare. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is implementing Medicare prescription drug coverage that will begin on January 1, 2006. -September 2005
Calendar of important dates - [PDF]
Message from Dr. Mark McClellan - [PDF]
What your organization can do
Websites that contain information
CMS regional offices - [PDF]
Tracking Through the Maze of Medicare's New Prescription Drug Coverage. New prescription drug coverage for Medicare beginning in January 2006. -September 2005
