ROMNEY ADMINISTRATION STEPS IN TO HELP SENIORS
AND THE DISABLED WITH THEIR MEDICATIONS
Governor Mitt Romney has directed the state to assist Massachusetts seniors and disabled individuals attempting to receive the prescription drugs they need under the new Medicare Part D program.
As a result, state Medicaid Director Beth Waldman announced today that MassHealth has begun to temporarily pay for the prescription drugs of MassHealth members who are supposed to be receiving them under the federal plan.
“Given reports about what is happening in pharmacies, Governor Romney has made it clear that we have an obligation to make certain that MassHealth members receive their medication when they need it,” said Waldman.
There are about 190,000 Massachusetts residents eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. MassHealth has received information that people who had enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan were being turned away from pharmacies because they had not received proof of coverage or because pharmacists could not get information needed to verify eligibility.
“The complexities of Part D make it a difficult program to implement perfectly,” said Waldman. “Until the program is operating as expected, we will step in to insure that none of our members who need medication will walk away from the pharmacy without it.”
MassHealth is notifying all of the state’s pharmacies today of its decision. Pharmacies will continue attempting to bill the Medicare Part D plan as the primary payer, but as a fallback can also bill MassHealth directly. Waldman said her agency will monitor the progress being made by the federal government and will recoup what it spends either from private insurers or the federal government.
Furthermore, as a result of the Governor’s directive, Executive Office of Elder Affairs Secretary Jennifer Carey announced that the state’s Prescription Advantage program will temporarily provide primary coverage for Medicare members on an individual and emergency basis for those whose prescription drugs are not covered under Medicare or whose drug plan is unable to process the claim due to incomplete enrollment files.
“Elder Affairs is committed to assuring that Prescription Advantage members do not experience any interruption in their prescription drug coverage while the new Medicare Part D issues are being resolved,” said Carey. “We are working to assure that no member leaves the pharmacy without their prescribed medication.”
There are approximately 72,000 Prescription Advantage members who are also on Medicare.
“These are all temporary, short-term solutions in response to situations that could threaten the health and well being of MassHealth and Prescription Advantage members,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Timothy Murphy. “We will continue to work closely with the federal government to make Medicare Part D a success.”
For more info regarding Medicare Part D please continue to the following website
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