Part D plans for 2007

The first wave of adjustments to the plans arose from problems and complaints identified during the first year of Part D operations. CMS actively monitored the number and type of complaints made by beneficiaries, providers, and caregivers to 1-(800) MEDICARE and to local CMS offices. Most disputes were about plan enrollment, followed by difficulty in getting needed drugs, and the cost of the drugs or incorrect co-pays.

Should compliance actions not resolve the problem, Medicare can temporarily restrict plan marketing by removing it from the Personal Plan Finder. Medicare took that action on 75 occasions, including times when a plan continued to provide incorrect information about drug prices and formularies. In only one case has Medicare initiated proceedings to terminate an organization for a persistent pattern of failure to comply with program requirements.

The first open enrollment period coming in November provides the opportunity to see adjustments to plans based on experience with the program. However, the significant changes may not occur because plans bidding for 2007 were required to submit their documents by April 30. At this early date, they had relatively little information about the performance of their initial offering.

Based on the bids that were submitted, we can expect that strong competition will prevail in 2007 and that the cost of Part D will continue to drop below initial estimates. The bids from the PDPs are 10% lower, on average, in 2007 than 2006. Although the premiums for specific plans may be higher or lower than they were in 2006, the average Part D premium will increase by only 0.1% for 2007 based on current enrollment patterns. These premiums are 40% lower than the premium of about $40 that was predicted for 2007 when the MMA was passed.

CMS required plans to limit the benefit options they offer in 2007 and to justify the options as having meaningful differences in benefit design that reflect the features selected most often by beneficiaries in 2006. Generally, plans were allowed to offer only three options, including one option that provides some coverage in the donut hole.

Any Part D plan that intends to drop out of the market in 2007 will be notifying its enrollees, the general public, and CMS by Oct. 1. This notification must include a written description of the alternatives for qualified prescription drug coverage available within the enrollees' region. At this time it does not appear that Medicare enrollees need to be concerned about disruption of their current coverage or limited options.

THE AUTHOR is associate professor, Department of Pharmacy Health Care Administration, University of Florida College of Pharmacy.