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Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card &
Transitional Assistance (TA) Program Information for
Providers
Under the Medicare-Approved Drug
Discount Card Program & Transitional Assistance (TA)
Program, Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) as Qualified Medicare
Beneficiaries (QMBs), Specified Low-Income Medicare
Beneficiaries (SLMBs), or Qualifying Individuals (QI-1s)
are deemed to meet the income requirement to receive TA
($600/year both in 2004 and in 2005 toward the purchase
of prescription drugs).
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) is undertaking an initiative to increase
TA enrollment for this low-income population by
facilitating enrollment and providing a streamlined
process for making the required attestations for TA.
National drug card sponsors that are willing to
participate will agree to follow simple procedures to
facilitate TA enrollment for MSP beneficiaries.
Starting in mid-October, over one
million people with Medicare received an “Important
Message from Medicare” and a Medicare-approved
discount drug card in the mail. People receiving this
important message are likely to qualify for up to $1,200
in credits from Medicare to help pay for their
prescription drug costs.
CMS has developed a “tool
kit” of materials for health care professionals,
and other partners to assist people with Medicare who can
benefit from this opportunity to save money on their
prescription drugs. Visit
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/news/autoenroll/default.asp
to access the tool kit, which includes downloadable,
printable materials, such as:
-
MSP Facilitated Enrollment Flier -
A flier suitable for distribution in pharmacies,
physician offices, and other public places.
-
Letter to Beneficiaries - This
letter has been sent to people with Medicare from all
approved drug card sponsors involved in the automatic
enrollment effort.
-
ABC Coalition Partners - Listing of
the Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC) members who
are partnering with CMS to help beneficiaries
understand the new choices coming their way.
-
Article from the Secretary - A
question and answer with Secretary Tommy Thompson.
This article is suitable for placement in community
and local papers.
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Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
- The public service announcements are suitable for
reading on the radio, and are 10-, 30-, and 60-second
spots. (English version) (Spanish version)
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Call! Enroll! Save! - This pamphlet
provides basic information about the simple steps to
get a Medicare-approved drug discount card and
encourages people to enroll. It was mailed to
low-income beneficiaries in early October.
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Letter to Pharmacists - This letter
has been electronically distributed through national
pharmacy organizations and other interested parties
to individual pharmacists, providing them with the
letter to beneficiaries, and asking them to
distribute a fact sheet.
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MedLearn Matters Articles for
Physicians & Other Health Care Professionals, and
Pharmacists and Other Pharmacy Professionals -
Articles from MedLearn (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters)
targeted to physicians and other health care
professionals (SE0457) and to pharmacists (SE0458)
with information about the discount card and $600
credit.
CMS Contractor Provider Education
Resources Listserv (1102-01)
Posted: 11/03/2004
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