Medicare Prescription Drug Act of 2000
Directs the Secretary to conduct a study on the feasibility and advisability of establishing an annual open enrollment period under the new part D program.
Amends SSA title XIX (Medicaid) to: (1) provide for coverage for certain low-income individuals of part D premiums; (2) require State Medicaid plans to provide that in the case of any individual whose eligibility for medical assistance is not limited to Medicare or Medicare drug cost-sharing, and for whom the State elects to pay monthly premiums under part D, the State will purchase all prescription drugs, without regard to whether the benefit limit for such individual has been reached; and (3) require Government payment of Medicare drug cost-sharing for qualified Medicare beneficiaries and for Medicare-eligible individuals with incomes between 100 and 150 percent of the Federal poverty line.
Directs the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MEDPAC) to study and report to Congress on: (1) the ability of benefit managers to improve quality and reduce costs and to assume risk; (2) strategies to improve risk assumption by such managers; (3) the likely effect of allowing benefit managers to vary aspects of the benefit packages based on costs, utilization, and access; and (4) the use of the stop-loss provision, including analysis of benefit manager data on beneficiary utilization and the effectiveness of cost constraints once the stop-loss is triggered.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment.