CMS Publishes Medicare Part D Reference Guide For Pharmacists

Main Category: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Also Included In: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 14 Dec 2007 - 4:00 PDT

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

A handy guide to the deadlines, billing systems and formularies involved in the complex world of Medicare Part D is available to help pharmacists better counsel their patients.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offer the recently updated Part D Reference Guide for Pharmacists as pharmacists head into 2008 and grapple with requirements for Part D, Medicare's outpatient drug coverage. The annual enrollment period ends Dec. 31.

Pharmacists can refer to the comprehensive, 14-page document to link patients with applications for low-income subsidies and information on switching health care plans. The guide includes a formulary finder, which identifies the specific CMS plans that cover patient medications.

Other helpful links in the guide provide information about Medicare plan requirements, exceptions and appeals processes and contacts for the various Medicare plans. There are lists of requirements for sponsors of Medicare beneficiaries and overviews of medication therapy management and quality improvement programs.

The guide also connects users with tips to detect and correct fraud, waste and abuse of Medicare, which impact the amount of money pharmacy departments receive from the federal government through Medicare.

Click here to access the guide on the CMS Web site.

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists