Nursing Drug Guide
SNF residents have special drug card options Enrollment in Medicare's drug program is relatively straightforward for most beneficiaries, but residents of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) have a few additional considerations to factor into the decision of whether to enroll and which card to select. CMS staff at the agency's Long-Term Care Open Door Forum May 25 noted several facts that healthcare providers should know:
* There are three cards specifically for those receiving or about to receive SNF care. All three are free and provide national coverage--LTC Card, Community Care Rx, and PBM Plus Senior Care.
* A special election allows beneficiaries entering or leaving a nursing facility to enroll or make a card change.
* The $600 low-income credit cannot be applied to any Medicare- or Medicaid-covered drugs.
To get more information from CMS's Guide to Choosing a Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card, go to www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11062.pdf.
To read about the enrollment process for the drug card program, go to www.medicare.gov/MedicareReform/EnrollmentForms.asp.
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COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
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