Closing the Coverage Gap—Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Changes Due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

November 1, 2010 Starting January 1, 2011, Medicare Part D beneficiaries with prescription claims higher than $2,840 received a subsidy and prescription discounts through provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010. To reduce beneficiaries' out-of-pocket spending, the provisions provided a 50% discount on the out-of-pocket cost of brand name prescription drugs. The full cost of the prescription is counted toward the catastrophic claims level. Generic medications were discounted by 7%. Download the Report . . .