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Medicare recipients could save on drugs

1/6/2012 8:54:50 AM by Administrator Account

From the Director's Desk by Catherine Taylor

In 2011 under provisions of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare Part D enrollees received a 50 percent discount on brand name prescription medications and a 7 percent discount on generic medications in the so-called doughnut hole or coverage gap of their prescription drug plans. This year, the discount for generic medications is up to 14 percent.

A recent report released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services documented the impact of the new assistance. According to the report, it was previously estimated that the average Medicare beneficiary would spend $1,504 for Part D-covered medications in the doughnut hole in 2011. The latest estimates indicate that the average will drop to $901.

That news is especially promising for members of the Rhode Island Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Elderly (RIPAE) program, which since 2006 has paid a portion of the cost of generic prescriptions purchased by eligible seniors and adults with disabilities under the deductible phase of their Part D plans and the doughnut hole provisions.

In 2011, the General Assembly added a benefit for enrollees who hit the doughnut hole in their Part D plans. While members are not able to receive immediate help from RIPAE when they purchase their prescriptions, they may apply to the state Division of Elder-ly Affairs (DEA) for partial reimbursement, which would be in addition to their Medicare Part D benefit.
RIPAE members must file a request for reimbursement. Applications and instructions for filing a claim can be obtained by calling the DEA at
(401) 462-3000 and (401) 462-0740 for text telephone users; or going online to www.dea.ri.gov and clicking on the RIPAE link.

Once members have hit the doughnut hole of a Medicare Part D plan, they must complete and sign the RIPAE reimbursement program application and mail it along with a year-to-date pharmacy expense printout, a current explanation of benefits (EOB) document from their Medicare Part D plan, a copy of their Medicare card and a copy of their RIPAE eligibility card, to Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs, 74 West Road, Hazard Building, 2nd Floor, Cranston, R.I., 02920.

Should members have any questions related to the reimbursement program or need help applying, they may contact THE POINT at (401) 462-4444 or (401) 462-4445 for telephone text users; or the DEA at (I401) 462-3000.

In addition, you can contact the following POINT agency closest to you:
• Child and Family Services of Newport County, (401) 849-2300.
• Eastbay Community Action Inc, (401) 461-1000.
• Johnston Senior Center, (401) 944-3343.
• Leon Mathieu Senior Center in Pawtucket, (401) 728-7582.
• United Way of Rhode Island, 211.
• Senior Services Inc. in Woonsocket, (401) 766-3734.
• South County Community Action Inc., (401) 785-3340.
• St. Martin dePorres Senior Center in Providence, (401) 274-6783.
• West Warwick Senior Center, (401) 822-9175.

If it is determined that a person is eligible for RIPAE reimbursement, the individual will receive a reimbursement check in the mail.
All other aspects of the RIPAE program remain the same, including auxiliary benefits such as the Verizon Lifeline discount, free entrance into state beaches, a discount on extended Cox Cable plan services and additional time to address issues with emissions testing on vehicles. Also, RIPAE cards remain valid.

Catherine Taylor is director of the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs. Contact her at (401) 462-0501.

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