Implications of Medicare Part D in CKD Anemia Treatment

Treating chronic kidney disease (CKD) anemia successfully requires not only making the correct diagnosis and choosing the appropriate treatment but also taking the steps needed to ensure that residents have access to treatment. This can be challenging with regard to the erythropoiesis-stimulating proteins (ESPs). To ensure access to these products, physicians must be health insurance literate, knowing how different Medicare parts cover the erythropoietin (EPO) products. For example, Medicare Part A places the responsibility for medications on the provider. This means that a long-term care facility is responsible for covering the cost of medications used during the Medicare Part A skilled stay. Medicare Part B covers medications that are provided “incident to” a physician service, including injectables provided by physicians in their offices or during dialysis treatments. Managed care plans, which provide coverage under Medicare Part C, are responsible for all of the benefits available under Medicare Parts A and B. The newest Medicare Part is D, the prescription drug benefit introduced in January 2006. Medicare Part D covers most medications administered to residents in a long-term care facility. For the dually eligible-that is, residents covered by both Medicare and Medicaid-the Medicare Part D program replaces Medicaid drug coverage. Unfortunately, the criteria by which these prescription plans choose to cover products such as ESPs are not based on any specific standard but vary greatly by plan as each has the right to determine coverage criteria. In addition to individualized plan criteria, each plan defines its own process for prior authorization, appeals, and exceptions. Understanding the basic rules of coverage is essential to ensuring access to the ESPs for residents with anemia of CKD.