Governor Requests Medicare Rx Extension
Governor Requests Medicare Rx Extension
Governor John E. Baldacci has filed a request with federal officials for an extension concerning the new federal Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
The request was filed Tuesday with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If granted, the request would extend the repayment deadline until March 31, 2006.
Maine has been working diligently with the federal system but more time is needed.
Meanwhile, Jude Walsh, Special Assistant to The Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance is scheduled to testify in Washington, D.C. today. Walsh was asked to provide Maine's perspective on Medicare Part D implementation.
Walsh said: "It's important CMS honor its commitment to reimburse states. Maine continues to provide a safety net for more than 10 thousand people who can not access their prescriptions under the Medicare Part D program. Maine has been covering the costs for those Mainers having trouble with the federal program."
The text of the letter follows.
February 28, 2006
Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Secretary Leavitt:
I am writing to you to ask for an extension to allow Maine to continue to be reimbursed for providing a safety net for MaineCare and Drugs for the Elderly Program members transitioning to Medicare Part D. While much progress has been made in successfully moving people into Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, there still remain many outstanding issues with identifying Low Income Subsidy (LIS) eligible members. I have attached a chart showing that over 10,000 of our members are still are missing LIS indicators.
Maine has implemented the following changes: Effective 2/16/06 we started processing payments only as a secondary payor. Pharmacies are now required to show evidence that a Prescription Drug Plan including the Wellpoint system was billed prior to sending the claim to us for reimbursement. This has significantly reduced the number of claims being billed to the State.
We are requesting an extension in the repayment deadline until 3/31/06 since so many of our enrollees continue to have high co pays and are being charged deductibles inappropriately.
We are committed to working with your staff to resolve ongoing technical issues and notified the Regional Office of these continued problems last week.
I appreciate all that you and your staff are doing to resolve these issues; however, it is critical that our most vulnerable citizens continue to maintain access to living sustaining medications.
Sincerely,
John E. Baldacci, Governor
State of Maine
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