Overview of Financial Flows in the Medical System
Download
Report
Transcript Overview of Financial Flows in the Medical System
Medicare Prescription
Drug Payment
Presented by Margaret Nowak
September 24, 2008
Avalere Health LLC | The intersection of business strategy and public policy
Why Focus on Medicare?
CMS* is a leader in defining evidence necessary for coverage and
reimbursement
» CMS’ process sets the standard for many payers
» Payment systems, rates, and quality measures frequently are benchmarks
for private payers and Medicaid
Medicare prescription drug benefit increases Medicare’s role and influence in the
healthcare market
Unlike private payers, CMS must adopt publicly accountable and transparent
processes
* CMS = Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
© Avalere Health LLC
Page 2
As of 2006, Medicare Covers Outpatient Prescription Drugs
Congress established a new outpatient prescription drug benefit (Part D) for
Medicare beneficiaries
Private-sector health insurance plans (e.g., Aetna, Humana) contract with
Medicare to deliver prescription drug benefits
Medicare Part D covers prescription drugs in much the same way as private
insurance plans
» Includes most drugs sold through retail pharmacies (e.g., Walgreen's)
» The law requires that Part D plans also covers supplies associated with the
administration of insulin, including syringes and needles
» Needles and syringes for other self-injected drugs are not explicitly covered
under Part D, however individual plans may choose to do so
» Many self-injected drugs are packaged and sold in pre-filled syringes, in
which case Medicare covers the “sharps” as part of the drug
© Avalere Health LLC
Page 3
Payment for Drugs Is Shared Across Stakeholders
Drug Manufacturer
$
Rx
$
Pharmacy
Insurance Plan
Rx
$
$
Patient
$
Medicare
© Avalere Health LLC
Page 4
Needle Disposal Costs Are Not Included in Medicare Drug
Reimbursement
What Medicare can and cannot pay for under the Part D prescription drug
benefit is defined in statute
Disposal costs do not meet any statutory definition of a Part D drug
» CMS has specified that needle disposal is not directly related to injection of
insulin, and therefore cannot be reimbursed by Part D*
» For the Federal government to reimburse plans for disposal costs, Congress
would have to pass legislation
» Alternatively, plans could pay for disposal and pass cost on to enrollee
* Source: CMS Final Regulations for Medicare Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, January 28, 2005.
© Avalere Health LLC
Page 5