News Releases for January 2006
January 06, 2006
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
Hoeven: State Will Assist Federal Medicare Pare D Recipients
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today announced state measures to provide assistance for North Dakotans who are transitioning their prescription drug coverage from Medicaid to MEDICARE, and who have been unable as yet to get their medications through the new federal Prescription Drug Program.
MEDICARE is the federal health coverage program that serves people age 65 and older or those with qualifying disabilities. Medicaid is the state and federally funded health coverage program for qualifying low-income individuals. Medicaid is administered by the state. The federal government administers MEDICARE.
On January 1, 2006, prescription coverage of people who qualify for both MEDICARE and Medicaid shifted from Medicaid to MEDICARE, becoming a federal responsibility; however, some low-income elderly and disabled individuals can’t get their prescriptions filled through their MEDICARE prescription drug plan.
To help meet their immediate needs, Hoeven said the state will take the following steps:
- The Governor has authorized the state Department of Human Services Medicaid program to provide an emergency 30-day supply for individuals unable to fill prescriptions through Medicare Part D until January 23, while the federal government and the prescription drug plans resolve their implementation issues. This will give affected individuals, pharmacists, and providers time to work through MEDICARE Prescription Drug plan issues with MEDICARE.
- Assistance will continue to be provided on a case-by-case basis through February 15 as issues are resolved.
“Medicare Part D is a federal benefit, but they are clearly having difficulty implementing this new program in a timely fashion,” Hoeven said. “Going without prescriptions is not an option for our seniors and disabled, so the state of North Dakota will step up to ensure that they continue to get their medications until the federal government resolves their difficulties.”
Pharmacies and long-term care facilities have reported problems that range from incomplete enrollment information, prescription drug plans not providing first fills as required by MEDICARE, and errors related to charging low-income people inappropriately for co-pays and deductibles. In addition, the state Department of Human Services is receiving about 100 calls and between 50 and 70 e-mails a day.
“These measures give us a window of opportunity to make sure everyone is properly enrolled,” said Howard Anderson, executive director of the State Board of Pharmacy. “It’s essential, however, that pharmacists and recipients continue to work with CMS to make sure everyone who is eligible is properly served under MEDICARE, because the state cannot continue indefinitely what is a federal responsibility.”
The Governor’s Office and Department of Human Services Executive Director Carol K. Olson have also contacted the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to press them to resolve issues quickly. The state is also seeking reimbursement from the federal government for the amount it expends covering MEDICARE recipients, which could be up to $2 million.
“Officials at the federal Department of Health and Human Services have assured us that this is their number one priority,” Hoeven said. “We will continue to work with them, our pharmacists and our nursing homes to make sure our citizens are properly served.”
“The state has successfully completed all its required tasks for the transition, and is now going beyond its obligation until the federal government meets its responsibilities,” Olson said.
E-mail comments to the Governor
