Greenberg R B
American Society of Hospital Pharmacists, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Am J Hosp Pharm. 1988 Dec;45(12):2518-25.
The Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 is described, and implications for pharmacy are discussed. The Catastrophic Coverage Act, which will be phased in between 1989 and 1993, provides for the following benefits for Medicare beneficiaries: Under Part A, a single annual deductible and an unlimited number of days for inpatient care and covered services and improved benefits for hospice and skilled-nursing-care facilities; under Part B, a limit on out-of-pocket expenses, improved home-care benefits (including home i.v. therapy), and an outpatient prescription benefit. Long-term care was not addressed in this legislation; benefits for extended-care services were expanded, but they apply only to an acute illness. The new benefit for outpatient prescriptions provides for payment for both the drug product and professional services by the pharmacy. The benefits will be financed through a supplemental premium to be paid by all individuals who are eligible for Part A. The pharmacy profession should work with the Department of Health and Human Services in implementing the Act to ensure that this opportunity results in improved patient care through the wise application of pharmaceutical services.
本文介绍了1988年的《医疗保险灾难性保险法案》，并讨论了其对药学领域的影响。灾难性保险法案将于1989年至1993年逐步实施，为医疗保险受益人提供以下福利：在A部分，设立单一的年度免赔额，住院护理和承保服务的天数不受限制，并改善临终关怀和专业护理机构的福利；在B部分，设定自付费用上限，改善家庭护理福利（包括家庭静脉治疗），并提供门诊处方福利。该立法未涉及长期护理；延长护理服务的福利有所扩大，但仅适用于急性疾病。新的门诊处方福利规定由药房支付药品和专业服务费用。这些福利将通过所有符合A部分资格的个人支付的补充保费来提供资金。药学专业应与卫生与公众服务部合作实施该法案，以确保通过明智地应用药学服务，这一机会能够改善患者护理。
