New
Medicare Drug Benefit threatens stability of patients on psychiatric
medications, new report finds...Congress
and Administration urged to erect safety nets
New York, NY – Impoverished psychiatric patients face an abrupt loss
of existing drug coverage, and many others face abrupt changes in
their medicine and dangerous side-effects because of the new
Medicare drug benefit.
These are among the key findings in a new report released today by
the Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer service group.
The report finds that millions of these impoverished men and women
are at risk of losing existing coverage either because of systems’
failures by state and federal officials or because their
disabilities, as well as health literacy issues, prevent them from
immediately navigating the transition to a new Medicare drug plan.
“The disruption of drug coverage will be devastating to the poorest,
frailest and most disabled Americans,” said Robert M. Hayes,
president of the Medicare Rights Center. “Congress and the White
House are on notice that people with mental disabilities are being
put in harm’s way without an assurance that current medications will
be maintained.”
Undermining Stability
also calls for the Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services to
require that its endorsed drug plans provide a transitional supply
of medication for people whose current drugs are either dropped from
the plans’ covered drugs or are subject to high out-of-pocket
co-pays.
“People with mental illness are especially vulnerable to abrupt
shifts in medicines,” Mr. Hayes said. “Perhaps the most significant
factor in allowing people with mental illness to live decent and
stable lives is compliance with an effective and consistent
medication plan.”
The 18-page report comes as the Administration continues its
campaign urging 42 million Americans with Medicare to enroll in the
new drug benefit. It also recommends:
Prohibit the use of formulary management
techniques, such as prior authorization, and favor alternative cost
management approaches, such as those that aim to educate providers
and adjust prescribing patterns behaviors to comply with best
practices.
Quality
assurance monitoring by CMS should include monitoring of formulary
operations, including plan customer service and retail pharmacy
practices as well as their effect on clinical outcomes.
Establish
a CMS-directed Helpline for All Transition Problems
The Medicare Rights Center, founded in 1989, is the largest
independent source of information and assistance on health care
rights and benefits for older and disabled men and women in the
United States. For more information about MRC, call 212-204-6219, or
visit the MRC web site:
www.medicarerights.org.
