The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 changed the playing field for private plans participating in the Medicare program by substantially raising monthly payment rates in 2004 and 2005 in an effort to stabilize the market and reverse the decline in benefit generosity.
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What is the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003?
Sweeping changes to the Medicare program embodied in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), including a new prescription drug benefit, changes in payment policies, and reform of the Medicare managed-care program, have major implications for rural health care. The most efficient mechanism for research to affect policy …
What does the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act do?
This has the effect of raising the Medicare Part B premium for such individuals by requiring that they pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) in addition to the standard premium and any penalties for late enrollment or re-enrollment.
What is Title 1 of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement Act 2003?
The Medicare Modernization Act covers the prescription drug insurance for both branded and generic drugs. This bill was drafted to help the elderly who have high drug cost maintenance to meet. Anyone who is enrolled in Medicare can avail of this program, without regard for income, status of health, and current expenses for prescription drugs [4].
What is the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA)?
Sep 20, 2013 · I will use the example of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003, which substantially reduced reimbursement for many mainstay generic cancer drugs, coupled with rising levels of generic drug shortages, to understand how policy influences treatment and outcomes for cancer in different geographic …
What is the Medicare Modernization Act?
This article also probes whether or not the bill has been successful in meeting the needs of the elderly population to gain secure access to affordable prescription medicine as well as helping the federal government lower its spending. Based on available literature, the Modernization Act has a limited advantage to the people it seeks to serve, while giving private companies more money and business. The Medicare Modernization Act fails to answer the needs of the elderly population to have better access to prescription drug because. While it offers more services and benefits, the MMA does not answer the problem on cost related to medication.
Does Medicare cover disabled people?
The program also covers people under 65 years old who are disabled and are not capable of holding employment. Traditionally, the Medicare provides hospitalization and medical insurance to the elderly [1]. Later amendments allowed an individual to enhance the services by integrating a private health plan into Medicare for an additional cost.
Is Medicare Modernization Act a failure?
Those who believe that the Medicare Modernization Act is a failure have based their arguments on some points. For one, Medicare users can’t avail of the drug prescription benefit without getting involved with private health insurers and paying for monthly premiums. While this is not an issue for some, there are elderly people whose monthly stipends are meager. They could not afford the premiums. Although the MMA provides that this type of people can be accommodated and given prescription drugs for free, the question would lie on what type of drugs would they get, given that they are not paying for them? This would also imply that the MMA becomes discriminatory based on income. Those who can afford to pay get more, while those who cannot get less. This beats the very essence of Medicare being a social program.
When was Medicare Modernization Act enacted?
Signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 8, 2003. The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, also called the Medicare Modernization Act or MMA, is a federal law of the United States, enacted in 2003. It produced the largest overhaul of Medicare in the public health program's 38-year history.
When did Medicare Advantage start?
Medicare Advantage plans. With the passage of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Medicare beneficiaries were given the option to receive their Medicare benefits through private health insurance plans, instead of through the Original Medicare plan (Parts A and B).
What is Medicare Part D?
Main article: Medicare Part D. The MMA's most touted feature is the introduction of an entitlement benefit for prescription drugs, through tax breaks and subsidies. In the years since Medicare's creation in 1965, the role of prescription drugs in patient care has significantly increased.
How many Americans were enrolled in HSAs in the first 10 years?
After the first 10 years over 12 million Americans were enrolled in HSAs (AHIP;EBRI).
Who was the chief architect of Medicare?
According to the New York Times December 17, 2004 editorial W.J."Billy" Tauzin, the Louisiana Republican who chaired the Energy and Commerce Committee from 2001 until February 4, 2004 was one of the chief architects of the new Medicare law. In 2004 Tauzin was appointed as chief lobbyist for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the trade association and lobby group for the drug industry with a "rumored salary of $2 million a year," drawing criticism from Public Citizen, the consumer advocacy group. They claimed that Tauzin "may have been negotiating for the lobbying job while writing the Medicare legislation." Tauzin was responsible for including a provision that prohibited Medicare from negotiating prices with drug companies.
Can Medicare negotiate drug prices?
Since the enactment of Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act in 2003, only insurance companies administering Medicare prescription drug program, not Medicare, have the legal right to negotiate drug prices directly from drug manufacturers.
What is the President's action on Medicare?
Today the President signed into law the historic Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, which will help to create a modern Medicare system, allow for the biggest improvements in senior health care in nearly 40 years, and provide seniors with prescription drug benefits ...
How many seniors are covered by Medicare?
For the first time in Medicare's history, a prescription drug benefit will be offered to all 40 million seniors and disabled Americans in Medicare to help them afford the cost of their medicines.
How much money would a senior save with no drug coverage?
Seniors with no drug coverage and monthly drug costs of $200 would save more than $1,700 on drug costs each year. Seniors with no drug coverage and monthly drug costs of $800 would save nearly $5,900 on drug costs each year.
How much does Medicare cover for seniors?
Seniors would be protected again high out-of-pocket costs with Medicare covering 95% of drug costs over $3,600 per year. Low-income seniors will receive additional help paying for their medicines. A $600 annual subsidy would be added to their drug discount card.
What percentage of Medicare subsidy is required by the Trustees?
For the first time ever, the legislation will require the Medicare Trustees to analyze the combined fiscal status of the Medicare Trust Funds and warn Congress and the President when Medicare's general fund subsidy exceeds 45 percent.
Can seniors get Medicare?
Seniors can choose to stay in traditional Medicare and still get prescription drug coverage. Or, they can choose a new Medicare-approved private plan where the drug benefit is integrated into broader medical coverage, including disease management programs and protections against high out-of-pocket medical spending.
