Medicare Resources

The Federal Government, provider groups, and advocacy organizations are all creating resources to ease the transition as the Medicare Modernization Act goes into effect. As you review these materials, keep in mind that many of the Act's provisions are different for people with both Medicare and Medicaid than for people with Medicare only. Also, specific details of what each prescription drug plan offers will not be available until October 2005.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

There are many publications, fact sheets, and tip sheets on these CMS Web sites, including a fact sheet called "Quick Facts About Medicare's New Coverage for Prescription Drugs for People with Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicaid Now Pays for Their Prescription Drugs." Visit www.medicare.gov and www.cms.hhs.gov/ or www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships.

"A Strategy for Transitioning Dual Eligibles from Medicaid to Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage," which provides guidance to states, is available at www.cms.hhs.gov. Questions? Call 1 (800) MEDICARE. TTY users should call 1 (877) 486-2048.

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Other Organizations

• Access to Benefits Coalition:
  Visit www.accesstobenefits.org.

• American Psychiatric Association:
  Visit www.psych.org.

• Kaiser Family Foundation:
  Visit www.kff.org.

• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill:
  Visit www.nami.org.

• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors:
  Visit www.nasmhpd.org.

• National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare:
  Visit www.nccbh.org.

• National Mental Health Association:
  Visit www.nmha.org.

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More Information

• The March 2005 issue of this newsletter, Prescriptions for Progress, focuses specifically on the Act's impact on dually eligible consumers. Visit www.postgradmed.com/pfp/pfp_index.htm.

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