Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit General Information

The Medicare prescription drug benefit is effective January 1, 2006. On September 23, 2005, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the prescription drug plans selected to administer the drug benefit.

The names of the plans available in New York State can be found via a clickable map at http://www.medicare.gov/medicarereform/map.asp
Information for plans and providers can be found on the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PrescriptionDrugCovGenIn/
Information for beneficiaries and caretakers can be found on the IPRO Web site at consumers.ipro.org
Medication Therapy Management Programs
By law, each medicare Part D Plan is required to offer a Medication Therapy Management Program (MTMP) as part of their benefit structure. These programs offer additional services to beneficiaries who have multiple chronic diseases AND are likely to incur annual costs of at least $4000 for all covered Part D drugs. Although the types of services provided may vary from plan to plan, they may be of great assistance to health care providers who struggle to assist their patients in medication management. More information, including a contact list by state and by plan, can be accessed at: www.cms.hhs.gov/PrescriptionDrugCovContra/08.asp
Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage Plan Directory
Updated CMS public website that include a Part D plan directory and Medicare Advantage claims processing contact directory. The site can be found at: www.cms.hhs.gov/MCRAdvPartDEnrolData/