Medicare part D and antiretroviral therapy: issues for HIV clinicians

As of January 1, 2006, Medicare Plan D will add a drug benefit to Medicare, potentially affecting antiretroviral therapy for some 60,000 to 80,000 beneficiaries with HIV infection or AIDS. Health care providers should know the basic details of Plan D and how it may affect coverage for Medicare beneficiaries with or without a previous drug benefit under Medicaid. Steps may need to be taken to ensure that there are no lapses in antiretroviral therapy during the transition from one pharmacy plan to another. This article summarizes a presentation on Medicare Plan D and antiretroviral therapy for patients with HIV or AIDS, given by Laura W. Cheever, MD, at the 8th Annual Clinical Conference for Ryan White CARE Act clinicians in New Orleans in June 2005, and developed by Dr Cheever and Mary R. Vienna, RN.