|
State / Municipality |
Action taken by |
Date
Enacted |
Summary |
|
Alabama |
Governor |
1/13/06 |
Directed Medicaid agency to develop a system for reimbursing pharmacies for Rx they fill for Duals. Pharmacies will be required to attempt to utilize the Medicare system by Medicaid will serve as safety net. http://www.governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2006-01-13-01-newprescriptionprog.asp
Coverage has expired. |
|
Alaska |
|
|
State will cover one 30-day transitional supply for dual-eligibles between 1/1/06 and 3/31/06. http://hss.state.ak.us/dsds/seniorcareinfo/COMedPartDFS012606.pdf
Coverage expired on 3/31/06. |
|
Arizona |
Governor – executive order |
1/13/06 |
Ordered the sum of $500,000 to be transferred as needed (in increments of $50,000) from the Health Crisis Fund to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to pay for prescriptions for full-duals that may be uncovered from January 1, 2006 – February 1, 2006 (to be extended if needed by further Executive Order). http://www.governor.state.az.us/press/2006/0601/06-01-13%20EO%202006-01.pdf
Coverage expired on 3/15/06. |
|
Arkansas |
Governor –executive order
|
1/11/06
2/15/06 |
Ordering state DHHS to provide “temporary assistance” to reimburse pharmacies that provide drugs to full duals. http://www.arkansas.gov/governor/media/releases/press/01112006-1.html
Coverage expired on 3/17/06. |
|
California |
Governor |
1/12/06
1/20/06
2/09/06
3/17/06
|
Authorizing a 5 day emergency program to pay duals’ Rx costs where the pharmacist is unable to submit a claim through Part D or the copay is higher than $1-$5. The legislature is working to extend the program for an additional ten days.
Emergency program has been extended through 2/11/06.
Passage of SB 1233 extends emergency program for an additional 34 days and provides governor authority to grant two more 30-day extensions if needed, but not beyond 5/16/06.
Program has been extended through 4/16/06. http://files.medi-cal.ca.gov/pubsdoco/publications/bulletins/flyers/20060317_emergency_bulletin.pdf |
|
City of Baltimore |
Mayor |
3/30/06 |
As part of it’s Medicare Part D Surveillance and Response initiative, the City Health Department has set up a $50,000 reserve fund to cover emergency prescriptions for low-income patients until Medicare Part D coverage problems are resolved. http://www.baltimorecitymedicare.org/
Baltimore City is extending its Medicare Part D Surveillance and Response initiative through the end of 4/06. http://www.baltimorecitymedicare.org/news.htm |
|
Connecticut |
Governor
Legislature |
1/9/06
|
Authorizing state DSS to pay prescription costs for duals and those in SPAP. Funds to be draw from the $5 million set aside by legislature in December to smooth transition to Part D.http://www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?Q=308372&A=2425
Legislation passed last year will cover co-pays, excluded, and non-formulary drugs for duals, but other emergency coverage for part d drugs has ended. Program will sunset 6/30/06 if funding is not found. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/ACT/PA/2005PA-00002-R00HB-07702SS4-PA.htm |
|
District of Columbia |
Mayor
|
1/19/06
|
Directive to set aside as much as $3 million from the city's contingency cash reserve to assist full-duals with their prescriptions.
http://dc.gov/news/release.asp?id=826
Emergency program will end 4/19/2006. |
|
Florida |
Governor - executive order |
1/26/06 |
State provides coverage for duals who cannot get prescriptions through Part D. http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/eog_new/eog/orders/2006/January/06-24-medicare.pdf |
|
Hawaii |
|
|
Implemented a contingency plan last year. The state pays the drug costs of any dual who has trouble getting their drugs during transition from Medicaid to Medicare.
With their SPAP cards, all dual eligibles enrolled in any of the Part D
Basic Standard Benefits plans that CMS auto-enrolled them in will have
The co-payments paid by the State at the pharmacy point-of-sale.
Coverage expired on 3/31/06. |
|
Idaho |
|
|
Covering cost of critical drugs for Duals on a case-by-case basis |
|
Illinois |
Governor |
1/12/06 |
Authorizing state to pay Rx costs for low income Part D recipients on a case-by-case basis.http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=3&RecNum=4587
Coverage has expired. |
|
Kansas |
Governor |
1/13/06 |
State will cover cost of Rx drugs if pharmacist is having trouble enrolling someone who is considered to be a Dual. http://www.ksgovernor.org/news/docs/news_rel011306c.html
Coverage has expired. |
|
Maine |
Governor |
1/10/06
4/2/06 |
State will pay drug claims for low-income beneficiaries until CMS finds a solution. Maine is providing one month Rx fills for several weeks. Duals are being reenrolled in the plans that provide the best coverage of their drugs.http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=Gov+News&id=11322&v=Article
Emergency coverage has been extended through 4/30/06. |
|
Maryland |
|
2/01/06
|
DHMH will cover prescriptions for dual-eligibles during Part D transition. http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/publ-rel/html/2006/pr020106.htm
Coverage has expired. |
|
Massachusetts |
Executive |
1/9/06 |
Authorizing temporary state coverage of prescriptions for duals and those in SPAP. Law allows for one-time 30 day supply and then a subsequent 72-hour emergency supply. http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw05/s1050175.htm |
|
Minnesota |
Governor -Executive Order
Legislature
|
1/18/06
3/08/06
|
Authorizing DHS to cover prescription drug costs for duals for 30 days. http://www.governor.state.mn.us/Tpaw_View_Article.asp?artid=1707
Passed a bill to extend emergency drug coverage for duals who encounter problems with Medicare Part D. $570,000 are budgeted for costs between March 8 and April 15. http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H3015.1.html&session=ls84
|
|
Missouri |
Governor |
1/18/06 |
Instituted the Medicare Part D Emergency Override program to help full-duals. The program will temporarily restore Medicaid prescription drug coverage in critical cases where access to the federal program can not be achieved in a timely fashion.http://www.dss.mo.gov/press/011806.htm |
|
Montana |
|
1/13/06 |
DPHHS will cover costs of prescriptions for dual-eligibles until issues with PDP are resolved. http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/hpsd/medicaid/medicaid2/pdf/pharmacy011306.pdf |
|
New Hampshire |
Governor – executive order
Legislature |
1/6/06
1/10/06
|
Authorizing state to pay prescription cost for dual-eligibles for 10 days.http://www.nh.gov/governor/orders/documents/Executive_Order_2006_1.pdf
Authorizing state to spend up to $500,000 to cover prescriptions for duals who cannot get drugs through Part D. Additional funds can be requested. http://nh.gov/governor/news/011006medicare.htm
Transitional coverage extended through 4/11/06. http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/DHHS_SITE/default.htm |
|
New Jersey |
Executive |
1/6/06
|
Authorizing state to cover prescriptions for duals and those in SPAP
Emergency coverage will end 6/30/06. |
|
New Mexico |
|
|
Medicaid coverage for excluded drugs. NM Board of Pharmacy has given 3.3 million dollars to assist beneficiaries in need. |
|
New York |
Legislature |
1/13/06
1/24/06 |
Will reverse computer edits for a period of 7 days in order to cover drugs for duals who were being denied drugs or being charged excessive amounts. http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/06/0113066.htm
State senate has approved Bill requiring state to pay for prescriptions for dual-eligibles until problems with Part D have been resolved. Governor has vetoed bill, but senate may override the decision. Medicaid will definitely provide transitional coverage through at least 3/8/06. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A09462&sh=t |
|
North Dakota |
Governor – executive order |
1/6/06 |
Medicaid authorized to provide 30-day emergency supply of medication until 1/23/06. Additional assistance thereafter on a case-by-case basis. http://governor.state.nd.us/media/newsreleases/2006/01/060106.html
Coverage has expired. |
|
Ohio |
Governor |
|
Directed ODJFS to guarantee the difference to pharmacists between the charged amounts and the co-pay as it should be. This is in effect till end of Jan. http://governor.ohio.gov/releases/011306Medicare.htm
State will continue to pay excess copayments for Part D plans. |
|
Oregon |
Governor |
1/19/06 |
Emergency Prescription Drug Assistance issued for full duals being denied access to prescriptions. The state will reimburse pharmacies for a 30-day supply of medication if the pharmacist is not able to bill Medicare or one of the federal benefit plans.
http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/p2006/press_011306b.shtml |
|
Pennsylvania |
Governor |
1/16/06 |
Authorized state to cover drug costs for individuals who can identify themselves as LIS eligible. http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/LowInc/MedicarePartD/003674228.htm
Asked pharmacies to provide a 5-day emergency supply of Rx drugs to those who eligible for Part D, but are having problems getting their meds. http://www.governor.state.pa.us/governor/cwp/view.asp?a=1115&q=444909 |
|
Rhode Island |
Executive (limited info available) |
1/11/06 |
Reactivated its Medicaid Prescription drug coverage for duals during transition http://www.ri.gov/GOVERNOR/view.php?rss=1&id=1161 |
|
South Dakota |
Governor – executive order |
1/6/06
|
Dual eligibles get a 30-day supply of medication if unable to fill through Part D. Sunsets 1/27/06. http://www.state.sd.us/news/showDoc.aspx?i=6185
Coverage expired on 1/27/06 |
|
Texas |
Governor - executive order
|
1/25/06
|
Authorizes HHSC to provide coverage for duals who cannot get prescriptions through Part D. http://www.hhs.state.tx.us/news/release/012506_RenewsMedicaid.shtml
3/31/06 is last day pharmacists can bill Medicaid to cover drugs for dual-eligibles. http://www.txcares.org/medicare/news.html#resumedual
Coverage expired on 3/31/06. |
|
Utah |
Governor - executive order |
1/14/06
|
State will cover prescriptions for dual-eligibles for 30 days.
Coverage has expired. |
|
Vermont |
Legislature |
|
$7 million appropriation to cover prescriptions for duals. Sunsets 2/10/06. http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/legdoc.cfm?URL=/docs/2006/bills/intro/H-582.htm
Coverage has expired in 3/06 |
|
Virginia |
Governor |
1/31/06
|
Authorized Medicaid to cover prescriptions for dual eligible beneficiaries. http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/downloads/pdfs/mm-part_D_emergency_01-30-06.pdf
Coverage has expired. |
|
Washington |
Legislature |
2/8/06 |
State will cover co-pays for duals from $14 million appropriated to Washington as clawback credit from CMS. Is in effect for one year. |
|
Wisconsin |
Governor |
1/13/06
3/06 |
Authorizing a one-time reimbursement for pharmacies that fill a 30-day supply of meds and can’t get reimbursed through the Part D channels. The reimbursement goes through the state Medicaid office. http://dawninfo.org/advocacy/issues/medicaid/Medicare_D_PR.pdf
Emergency coverage extended for dual-eligibles through 4/15/06. http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid/updates/2006/2006pdfs/2006-31.pdf |
