Action Alert: Having Trouble With Medicare Part D?

Since the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit took effect on January 1, there have been an overwhelming number of reported problems with the benefit. These problems have been prominently covered by many media sources, and news of the difficulties beneficiaries are having has also reached Congress. According to these reports, a high concentration of dual eligible beneficiaries -- those receiving both Medicare and Medicaid benefits -- are among those experiencing problems with the new prescription drug benefit. Most of the people living with HIV who are receiving drugs through Part D -- approximately 60,000 people -- are dual eligibles.

If you or your clients have had trouble filling a prescription(s) under the new Medicare Part D drug program, let the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) know so that the agency is aware of the problem and can work to fix it.

Send an e-mail describing your problem to: lorraine.zicha@cms.hhs.gov, Ekegler@cms.hhs.gov and hivma@idsociety.org.

Suggested information to include in the e-mail (just include what you can):

• A description of what happened
• The names your medication(s), especially if it is an HIV drug
• Pharmacy name and general location (city and state, at a minimum)
• Name of your prescription drug plan
• What you think caused the problem
• Any additional information you wish to provide
• You do NOT Need to Include Any Personal Information

The HIV Medicare and Medicaid Working Group -- of which AIDS Action is a member -- will be sharing Medicare Part D stories with Administration officials, Congressional staff, and the media. We will remove all personal information before sharing stories. If you prefer to have your e-mail sent anonymously to CMS, e-mail hivma@idsociety.org directly, and the HIV Medicine Association staff will remove personal identifying information and forward the information to CMS.

Take AIDS Action!

If you or your clients have had trouble filling a prescription(s) under the new Medicare drug program, let the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) know so that the agency is aware of the problem and can work to fix it.