Full access
Government News
Published Online: 21 May 2004

HHS Approves 73 Sponsors For Discount Card Program

Publication: Psychiatric News
Volume 39, Number 10
https://doi.org/10.1176/pn.39.10.0006a
To date Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has approved 73 private sponsors for the new Medicare discount card program—40 national cards will be available to all eligible beneficiaries, and 33 regional cards will be available. The program is scheduled to take effect in June.
The new card program, established under the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, is a temporary program designed to provide savings on prescription drugs to beneficiaries until the prescription drug benefit takes effect in 2006.
All Medicare beneficiaries, except those who already receive outpatient drugs through Medicaid, can now enroll in the program, and the cards’ savings will take effect June 1. Card providers may charge an annual enrollment fee of up to $30, but there is no enrollment fee for low-income people who qualify for the $600 credit.
Medicare-approved cards will be marketed to seniors by the organizations offering the cards. Seniors will sign up for the cards directly with the organization offering the card they choose, according to HHS.
The 73 approved sponsors must offer discounts on prescription drugs for all Medicare enrollees, with at least some of these savings coming from manufacturer rebates. Card sponsors also must publish prices for the prescription drugs their cards will cover, provide access to an extensive retail pharmacy network, operate call centers, and have a process to respond to beneficiary concerns.
Some card sponsors will offer more than one card program to seniors and people with disabilities. In addition, 43 sponsors, representing 84 Medicare Advantage health plans, will offer cards to the beneficiaries enrolled in their health plans.
Customer service representatives at (800) MEDICARE will be able to answer questions about the program, help callers compare drug cards on price and network pharmacies, and refer callers to other appropriate resources. They will also mail the results of the comparison to seniors, according to HHS.
Information on the Medicare drug discount card program is posted online at www.medicare.gov/AssistancePrograms/home.asp?version=default&browser=IE%7C6%. Beneficiaries can compare prices of drugs offered by the sponsors online or by phone at (800) MEDICARE.

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric News
Psychiatric News
Volume 39 • Number 10 • May 21, 2004
Pages: 6

History

Published online: 21 May 2004
Published in print: May 21, 2004

Authors

Metrics & Citations

Metrics

Citations

Export Citations

If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.

For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.

Format
Citation style
Style
Copy to clipboard
Tips for downloading citations

There are no citations for this item

View Options

View options

Get Access

Login options

Already a subscriber? Access your subscription through your login credentials or your institution for full access to this article.

Personal login Institutional Login Open Athens login

Not a subscriber?

Subscribe Now / Learn More

PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5-TR® library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.

Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

Share

Share

Share article link

Share

×

As described within the American Psychiatric Association (APA)'s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, this website utilizes cookies, including for the purpose of offering an optimal online experience and services tailored to your preferences. Please read the entire Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. By closing this message, browsing this website, continuing the navigation, or otherwise continuing to use the APA's websites, you confirm that you understand and accept the terms of the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the utilization of cookies.