Prescription Drug Benefits

Impact of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit on Home- and Community-Based Services Waiver Programs, April 2005

Home- and community-based services waiver programs enable many individuals dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid to avoid nursing homes. But access to prescription drugs may be impeded when drug coverage is transferred from Medicaid to Medicare in January 2006, threatening the ability of dual eligibles to remain in the community. The Hilltop Institute (as the Center for Health Program Development and Management) examined the likely impact of the new Medicare drug benefit in Maryland and recommended federal policy remedies.