Unintended Consequences: The Potential Impact of Medicare Part D on Dual Eligibles with Disabilities in Medicaid Work Incentive Programs

Abstract

Common sense suggests that a safety net is required for situations in which enrollees are unable to obtain critical or life-sustaining medications. Such situations can arise when either the drug is not on formulary and/or is being used off-label and the appeals process has been exhausted, or when patients cannot afford the co-payments for the numerous medications they need. Given the vulnerability of this population, immediate action is needed to address these issues in the short time remaining before Part D is implemented.