Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Program will go live next spring.  Even though legislation establishing a Medicare-endorsed prescription drug program hasn't passed yet, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is preparing to launch the new benefit in the first half of next year. In an Oct. 7 letter to state Medicaid directors, CMS said that "it is likely that the prescription drug discount card with a transitional low income assistance program ... will become operational in the Spring of 2004." The agency points out that states will have some data-related responsibilities in connection with the program - e.g., identifying dual eligibles who already receive drug coverage through Medicaid - and that they ought to brace themselves for the additional work. To see the letter, go to http://cms.hhs.gov/states/letters/default.asp. Lesson Learned: Barring a major snarl in Congress, your Medicare patients may have assistance on drug purchases by the middle of next year.