FW: ASTS Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Chart

[Guest guest]

This was the original message I got which was forwarded to me from one of our Hepatologists. It came from the ASTS. I also noticed the 100% coverage term but haven't had a chance to review in detail the entire chart.

ASTS Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Chart

To: ASTS Members

Attached is an explanatory chart that describes immunosuppressive coverage under the current Medicare program, how coverage is impacted by the Medicare Drug Discount Card Program, and how coverage will be augmented by the full Medicare drug benefit in 2006. Coverage for immunosuppressive drugs under Medicare is Byzantine and depends on many factors, including but not limited to Medicare eligibility (ESRD or aged/disabled), Medicare eligibility at the time of transplant, and/or whether the transplant was performed in a Medicare-approved facility. The goal of this chart is to allow transplant surgeons and their staffs to better understand the current state of immunosuppressive coverage and how it will be impacted by the new Medicare law.

Please click onto the attachment to this email for more information and the Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Explanatory Chart.

Thank you.

See our web page at http://www.lahey.org for a full directory of Lahey sites, staff, services and career opportunities.THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED FOR THE USE OF THE PERSON TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED. IT MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. If you are not the intended recipient, your use of this message for any purpose is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please delete the message and notify the sender so that we may correct our records.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for clearing that up. I agree that it should not have been distributed until correct info was obtained.

Pat

ASTS Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Chart

To: ASTS Members

Attached is an explanatory chart that describes immunosuppressive coverage under the current Medicare program, how coverage is impacted by the Medicare Drug Discount Card Program, and how coverage will be augmented by the full Medicare drug benefit in 2006. Coverage for immunosuppressive drugs under Medicare is Byzantine and depends on many factors, including but not limited to Medicare eligibility (ESRD or aged/disabled), Medicare eligibility at the time of transplant, and/or whether the transplant was performed in a Medicare-approved facility. The goal of this chart is to allow transplant surgeons and their staffs to better understand the current state of immunosuppressive coverage and how it will be impacted by the new Medicare law.

Please click onto the attachment to this email for more information and the Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Explanatory Chart.

Thank you

See our web page at http://www.lahey.org for a full directory of Lahey sites, staff, services and career opportunities.THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED FOR THE USE OF THE PERSON TO WHOM IT IS ADDRESSED. IT MAY CONTAIN INFORMATION THAT IS PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. If you are not the intended recipient, your use of this message for any purpose is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please delete the message and notify the sender so that we may correct our records.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the info...I just reviewed chart yesterday & had the same questions.

ASTS Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Chart

To: ASTS Members

Attached is an explanatory chart that describes immunosuppressive coverage under the current Medicare program, how coverage is impacted by the Medicare Drug Discount Card Program, and how coverage will be augmented by the full Medicare drug benefit in 2006. Coverage for immunosuppressive drugs under Medicare is Byzantine and depends on many factors, including but not limited to Medicare eligibility (ESRD or aged/disabled), Medicare eligibility at the time of transplant, and/or whether the transplant was performed in a Medicare-approved facility. The goal of this chart is to allow transplant surgeons and their staffs to better understand the current state of immunosuppressive coverage and how it will be impacted by the new Medicare law.

Please click onto the attachment to this email for more information and the Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Explanatory Chart.

Thank you

[Guest guest]

I agree incomplete is not good but that format & "correct" information would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

Let us know if we can obtain once it is "correct & complete".

thanks

ASTS Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Chart

To: ASTS Members

Attached is an explanatory chart that describes immunosuppressive coverage under the current Medicare program, how coverage is impacted by the Medicare Drug Discount Card Program, and how coverage will be augmented by the full Medicare drug benefit in 2006. Coverage for immunosuppressive drugs under Medicare is Byzantine and depends on many factors, including but not limited to Medicare eligibility (ESRD or aged/disabled), Medicare eligibility at the time of transplant, and/or whether the transplant was performed in a Medicare-approved facility. The goal of this chart is to allow transplant surgeons and their staffs to better understand the current state of immunosuppressive coverage and how it will be impacted by the new Medicare law.

Please click onto the attachment to this email for more information and the Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Explanatory Chart.

Thank you

[Guest guest]

I agree incomplete is not good but that format & "correct" information would be greatly appreciated!!!!!Let us know if we can obtain once it is "correct & complete".[(Aguiar, )] The problem, if you will, as Bill pointed out when someone brought this issue up a month or so ago (might have been Arlene Gatto) is that the Medicare drug bill in question doesn't address coverage for immunos at all-it doesn't specifically incorporate them into the provisions being made for other prescription drugs, but on the other hand it doesn't specify that the current coverage levels our pts have for these immunos will remain unchanged once the new benefit goes into effect. (And, in my personal opinion, there's then the whole question of whether what's been proposed & passed will ever actually come into effect in 2006 given the growing cost of this bill & the growing budget deficit in the country, but again, that's just my personal opinion, for what that's worth.)

J. Aguiar

Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston

[Guest guest]

SOUNDS LIKE A FORUM NEEDED ON THIS ISSUE ALONE!!!!!!

-----Original Message-----From: LAguiar@... Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 8:57 AMTo: TxFinancialCoordinatorsYahoogroupsSubject: RE: FW: ASTS Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Chart

I agree incomplete is not good but that format & "correct" information would be greatly appreciated!!!!!Let us know if we can obtain once it is "correct & complete".[(Aguiar, )] The problem, if you will, as Bill pointed out when someone brought this issue up a month or so ago (might have been Arlene Gatto) is that the Medicare drug bill in question doesn't address coverage for immunos at all-it doesn't specifically incorporate them into the provisions being made for other prescription drugs, but on the other hand it doesn't specify that the current coverage levels our pts have for these immunos will remain unchanged once the new benefit goes into effect. (And, in my personal opinion, there's then the whole question of whether what's been proposed & passed will ever actually come into effect in 2006 given the growing cost of this bill & the growing budget deficit in the country, but again, that's just my personal opinion, for what that's worth.)

J. Aguiar

Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston

[Guest guest]

I just had a patient asking me how this will effect her when she turns 65 in 2 years. All I could tell her was to keep informed!!

-----Original Message-----From: Kersten, Joan Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 11:26 AMTo: TxFinancialCoordinatorsYahoogroupsSubject: RE: FW: ASTS Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Chart

SOUNDS LIKE A FORUM NEEDED ON THIS ISSUE ALONE!!!!!!

-----Original Message-----From: LAguiar@... Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2004 8:57 AMTo: TxFinancialCoordinatorsYahoogroupsSubject: RE: FW: ASTS Medicare Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage Chart

I agree incomplete is not good but that format & "correct" information would be greatly appreciated!!!!!Let us know if we can obtain once it is "correct & complete".[(Aguiar, )] The problem, if you will, as Bill pointed out when someone brought this issue up a month or so ago (might have been Arlene Gatto) is that the Medicare drug bill in question doesn't address coverage for immunos at all-it doesn't specifically incorporate them into the provisions being made for other prescription drugs, but on the other hand it doesn't specify that the current coverage levels our pts have for these immunos will remain unchanged once the new benefit goes into effect. (And, in my personal opinion, there's then the whole question of whether what's been proposed & passed will ever actually come into effect in 2006 given the growing cost of this bill & the growing budget deficit in the country, but again, that's just my personal opinion, for what that's worth.)

J. Aguiar

Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston