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Medicare Part D Updated February, 2006 The emergency in California caused by the rollout of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit (Part D) starting January 1, 2006 is a continuing crisis. There has been action taken by the State to assist dual eligibles, but there remains widespread confusion and panic by seniors and persons with disabilities. AB 132 (Nunez) was enacted in response to the Part D crisis, and SB 1223 (Perata) would provide protection for the state's vulnerable dual eligibles population. Although the State put in place a temporary emergency plan, there are still significant problems with accessing Medicare Part D coverage. Many dual eligibles and those on Medicare do not understand even the basics of Part D, including whether it applies to them, how to use it, how to select a plan, what their costs are, what the low-income subsidy (LIS) is and how it works, or how to change plans. Factors contributing to the confusion include an overly complex program, language barriers, and convoluted explanatory materials written at too high a literacy level, and materials that were never received or disregarded for various reasons. Advocacy groups are struggling to provide notice to the approximately 1 million dual eligibles and the 10,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries becoming eligible for Medicare each month. The crisis of Part D was not created by the State. However, the harmful impact of Part D is being experienced by those with the least ability, both financially or physically and emotionally, to help themselves. Here are a few links that may be helpful:
MHAC Memo to Senate Committees on Health, Subcommittee on Aging and Long Term Care and Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services; Assembly Committees on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care, and Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services regarding our concerns with the barriers faced by "dual eligibles." |
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