Experience of Sole Community Rural Independent Pharmacies with Medicare Part D: Reports from the Field.

摘要

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) created prescription drug coverage for Medicare beneficiaries through the Medicare Part D program. The programs intent is to expand access to outpatient prescription medications, and for many beneficiaries it has done so; approximately 22.5 million beneficiaries are enrolled in Part D plans (PDPs), with an additional 15.8 million covered by other plans. The new drug benefit relies on competing PDPs, which enroll beneficiaries, set premiums, establish formularies, and contract directly with pharmacies for reimbursement purposes. This case study describes first-hand reports from 12 rural independent pharmacists in seven states about their experiences with Medicare PDPs in the first seven months of 2006. All 12 respondents operate pharmacies that are located 10 miles or more from the next closest pharmacy. Findings for this case study are taken from a larger survey of rural independent pharmacists. The study examines unintended impacts of the Medicare Part D program on independent pharmacies in rural areas. Issues are identified that may affect future geographic access to outpatient pharmaceuticals for some rural residents, and so may warrant immediate attention within the context of the current law and regulations governing the Part D program.