What
is Baltimore City doing to prepare for the implementation
of Medicare Part D on January 1, 2006?
Starting on January 1, Baltimore City will conduct round-the-clock
surveillance for problems associated with the implementation
of Medicare Part D. The city will also respond with direct
assistance to residents who are experiencing difficulties
with this transition. For more information, read the complete
plan 
[TOP]
How will this initiative work?
Pharmacists will report to the Baltimore City Health Department
any problems faced by city residents in the transition to
Medicare Part D. Pharmacists can report these problems by
fax, internet or phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The
Health Department will then notify the city’s Commission
on Aging and Retirement Education (CARE). CARE outreach workers
will contact the patient by phone or home visit within 72
hours to help resolve the prescription coverage issue under
Medicare Part D.
In case of urgent problems impeding access to essential drugs,
on-call staff at the Health Department will provide 24-hour
support to pharmacists on Medicare Part D. The Health Department
has set aside $50,000 as a special reserve fund to cover medications
for low-income patients until coverage issues are resolved.
CARE’s support staff will provide counseling and/or
enrollment assistance during normal business hours, 8:30 a.m.
– 4:30 p.m. [TOP]
How will the City know
if these efforts have made a difference?
The Health Department will be contacting patients several
weeks after the initial intervention to assess whether their
coverage problems were resolved. In addition, the Health Department
will be monitoring Emergency Departments in the city to learn
whether more or fewer seniors are presenting with medical
problems that are preventable with medication – such
as high blood sugar. [TOP]
Is
this initiative relevant to emergency preparedness?
Absolutely. The initiative has strengthened the essential
public health partnership between the Health Department and
city pharmacies. The Health Department also hopes to apply
the lessons learned from this around-the-clock surveillance
and response effort to preparedness for natural disasters,
outbreaks of infectious disease and bioterrorism. [TOP]
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