May 3 2004
The Pharmacy Care Alliance today announced that it received approval from Medicare to begin education, outreach and enrollment activities for its Medicare-approved drug discount card on May 3. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved these activities following a thorough review of all Pharmacy Care Alliance materials and operational plans submitted to CMS.
“The Pharmacy Care Alliance is pleased it will soon be able to help inform and educate Medicare beneficiaries about the substantial savings and benefits they can enjoy by using our card,” said Mary Ann Wagner, president and consumer health adviser for the Pharmacy Care Alliance. “We look forward to working with our growing network of more than 41,000 pharmacies to help our patients save.”
The Pharmacy Care Alliance received Medicare approval of its discount drug card in March and this CMS approval of its public distribution materials means it will be one of the first Medicare-approved cards to begin marketing efforts.
Medicare beneficiaries can begin applying for the discount card on May 3, and enrollees can begin receiving discounts on June 1. The Pharmacy Care Alliance estimates that the Medicare beneficiaries will be able to save as much as 20 percent on brand name and 40 percent on generic drugs through the use of its Medicare-approved drug discount card.
Medicare-approved drug discount cards are designed to help beneficiaries with prescription drug costs until the complete federal prescription drug coverage – Medicare Part D – takes effect in January 2006.
Medicare Advantage enrollment does not affect frailty trajectories