Message From CMS: Help Us Reach Medicare Beneficiaries

CMS is sending a clear message to medical associations such as the AAFP regarding dissemination of information to patients about the Medicare prescription drug benefit. That message: "You are critical to our success."

Those were the words of Tom Lenz, CMS regional administrator, during a May 26 meeting at the CMS regional office here.

"We've got a ton of work to do, and the medical associations are great partners," Lenz told representatives of those associations. Kent Moore, AAFP manager of health care financing and delivery systems, represented the Academy at the meeting. Other organizations represented at the meeting included the Kansas Medical Society, Medical Society of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties, Kansas Association of Osteopathic Medicine and Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons.

While the meeting covered a variety of Medicare topics, the primary focus was on the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 drug benefit that takes effect Jan. 1, 2006.

CMS wants to make Medicare providers aware of resources such as the Medicare Learning Network that features the Medlearn Matters Drug Coverage Series -- articles that provide updated information on the drug benefit as details are made public.

An additional Web site you may want to check out yourself or keep handy as a resource for patients with questions is Help With Medicare Prescription Drug Costs.

Carl Hawkins, CMS director of field operations for drug benefit education, said CMS doesn't expect physicians to be experts in the details of the drug benefit. "Just think about how you can help us," he said.

"It's not feasible to expect physicians to talk to patients for five to 10 minutes about this during a visit," Hawkins said. "But make patients aware of the coverage," and, once the application period begins Nov. 15, "ask them if they have applied."