South Dakota to Help with Emergency Medication for Those Transitioning from Medicaid to Medicare Part D Progam

South Dakota to Help with emergency medications for those transitioning from Medicaid to Medicare Part D Program

Due to significant problems in the federal government's implementation of the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program, South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds announced effective Monday, January 9, 2006, the state will help seniors and people with disabilities that are transitioning from Medicaid to the Medicare Part D program, get emergency medications.

"I have directed the Department of Social Services to authorize payment for a 30-day supply of emergency medications until January 27th for dual eligible - Medicare/Medicaid recipients," said Gov Rounds. "By then, we hope that problems with the new Medicare Part D program will be resolved."

Gov. Rounds said this is not just a problem in South Dakota. Across the nation, individuals did not receive their drug cards, were overcharged for drugs or were told they were missing from a computer database of Medicare enrollees. Several other states are implementing similar temporary measures. The federal government is working to fulfill their responsibility. However, in the interim, South Dakota's most vulnerable citizens must have access to their needed medications. This temporary solution will ensure South Dakota seniors and disabled citizens receive their prescription drugs until the federal program is running smoothly.

The Department of Social Services is working with the state's pharmacies to assist citizens who are encountering problems with obtaining their prescription drugs. On Monday, pharmacies that are unable to fill a prescription for a Medicare/Medicaid recipient, will be able to contact the Department of Social Services staff, who will assist them in obtaining correct enrollment information or authorize a 30-day emergency supply.

"While the State provides this temporary solution, I'll be working with our congressional delegation and the appropriate federal agencies to keep them updated on the problems and to obtain reimbursement from the federal government," stated Rounds. "We successfully implemented our part of the transition. We are now going to do what's right. In South Dakota, we take care of our neighbors, whether they live next door or across the state."

http://www.state.sd.us/governor/