Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan Contracts

6-29-05

In May, the NIHB sent out an alert regarding the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans indicating that contracts were being sent to IHS, Tribal and Urban (I/T/U) pharmacies. As indicated, these contracts will be necessary for pharmacies to continue receiving maximum reimbursement for dispensing prescription drugs to dual eligibles (enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid) after January 1, 2006. Contracts from each Medicare Part D Plan should be carefully reviewed by contracting officials, tribal staff and/or tribal legal counsel before they are signed and returned. Because the 2006 Part D Plans and their premiums will not be known until September, some tribes may want to negotiate pharmacy contracts with all plans to ensure contracts are in place for $0 premium Part D plans.

You are encouraged to review and act on these contracts as soon as possible. The deadline is fast approaching.

As part of ongoing efforts to ensure that the contracting process is succesful, the NIHB is requesting that Tribal and Urban pharmacies communicate to the NIHB the names and contact information of the Prescription Drug Plans submitting contracts thus far. You can send this information to Stacy A. Bohlen, Legislative Director, National Indian Health Board, at sbohlen@nihb.org or via fax at (202) 742-4285. Please share this information with your pharmacies.