GAO Report Examines Effects Of Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy On Access To Prescription Drugs

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 09 Sep 2008 - 7:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

"Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy: Assets and Income Are Both Important in Subsidy Denials, and Access to State and Manufacturer Drug Programs Is Uneven," Government Accountability Office: The report examines the importance of assets and income in low-income subsidy denials in 2006 and 2007 and state and manufacturer programs providing access to prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries. The study finds that in 2006 and 2007, while assets and income were both factors in denials of low-income subsidies, income was "of greater importance." It also finds that programs from states and drug manufacturers to assist low-income beneficiaries "are uneven." For the study, GAO analyzed Social Security Administration data, information on state and pharmaceutical companies' drug programs, and interviewed officials from CMS, SSA, advocacy groups, states and pharmaceutical company programs ("Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy: Assets and Income Are Both Important in Subsidy Denials, and Access to State and Manufacturer Drug Programs Is Uneven," GAO, 9/5).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.