PRESS RELEASE: National Medicare Audioconference: An Analysis of Medicare Cost Sharing
  • Tuesday, June 27, 2006
  • 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm (Eastern)
  • 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm (Central)
  • 11:00 am - 12:30 pm (Mountain)
  • 10:00 am - 11:30 am (Pacific)
  • www.MedicareAudioconferences.com
PRESS RELEASE
Phone: 800-684-4549
Email: registration@hcconferences.com
Website: www.MedicareAudioconferences.com

WASHINGTON DC USA -- HEALTHCARE UPDATE NEWS SERVICE(TM) -- JUNE 13, 2006: The National Medicare Audioconference: An Analysis of Medicare Cost Sharing has been scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, 2006 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm (Eastern). The audioconference is powered by Avalere Health, LLC, www.AvalereHealth.net, and sponsored by Health Affairs, www.HealthAffairs.org, and Harvard Health Policy Review, http://hcs.harvard.edu/~epihc/.

ABOUT THE AUDIOCONFERENCE:

The majority of Medicare drug plans' formularies array drugs across four or more formulary tiers, exposing beneficiaries to increased levels of cost-sharing for certain drugs. A new audioconference will explore the types of products commonly or exclusively found on the fourth and fifth tiers of drug plans. Experts from CMS, plans, and patient advocacy organizations will discuss:

  • the premiere and prevalence of four- and five-tiered plans
  • the plans' perspective on why multi-tiered formularies are important for utilization management and patient care
  • government efforts to track beneficiary experiences and
  • the potential effect of increased cost-sharing on beneficiary behavior, drug utilization, and access.
POWERED BY:
SPONSORED BY:


FEATURED FACULTY:

Aaron Eaton
Director of Division of Finance and Operations, Medicare Drug Benefit Group, Center for Beneficiary Choices, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Washington, DC
Lindy Hinman
Senior Manager, Avalere Health
Washington, DC
(Moderator)

Sarah Barber
Senior Policy Analyst
American Cancer Society (ACS)
Washington, DC
Lovisa Gustafsson
Senior Associate, Avalere Health
Washington, DC

AUDIOCONFERENCE AGENDA:

The Audioconference agenda is set forth in Eastern Daylight Time below:

1:00 pm Welcoming Remarks and Introduction of Faculty
Lindy Hinman, Avalere Health (Moderator)

1:05 pm

A Marketplace Overview: Cost-Sharing and Formulary Design Analysis
Lovisa Gustafsson, Avalere Health
  • Analyzing marketplace trends in cost management strategies
  • Examining formulary positioning for specialty products and other high-cost drugs

1:20 pm

Plan Design: Examining the Alternate Benefit Structure
Plan Representative, TBD
  • Understanding a plan's role in managing patient care
  • Discussing impact of 2006 enrollment on future benefit design

1:45 pm

The Role of the Federal Government
Aaron Eaton, CMS
  • Addressing CMS' role in providing plan oversight
  • Discussing CMS' role in educating beneficiaries

2:00 pm

View from the Patients: The Beneficiary Experience
Sarah Barber, ACS
  • Assessing impact of four- and five-tier formularies on access to medications
  • Evaluating evolving beneficiary options

2:15 pm

Facilitated Panel Discussion and Questions from the Audience
Lindy Hinman, Avalere Health

2:30 pm

Audioconference Adjournment

WHAT IS AN AUDIOCONFERENCE?

It is a live event that includes session handouts, an interactive question and answer period, and access for an unlimited number of participants at each call-in site. However, only one site can be offered per registration. It is impermissible for an organization to purchase one registration and to operate multiple sites through an internal telephone system. During the live Audioconference participants will be able to ask questions and make comments. The Audioconference faculty has agreed to take follow-up questions via email. Audioconferences are simple, accessible, cost effective and reach a broad audience locally.



SAVE THE DATE:

THE THIRD NATIONAL MEDICARE CONGRESS:
Powered by the Avalere Health
Sponsored by Health Affairs and Harvard Health Policy Review
October 15 -17, 2006
Washington, DC
www.MedicareCongress.com



AUDIOCONFERENCE REGISTRATION:

The Audioconference Registration Fee is $345 per Site. No limit to number of attendees per site.

Purchase the Audioconference CD-ROM for $345.

Or register for the audioconference and receive the CD-ROM for $495.

You can register online at:
www.MedicareAudioconferences.com

Alternatively, you can download and print the Audioconference Registration Form from the website:
www.medicareaudioconferences.com/MCAudio20060627/regform.pdf

The completed form can be faxed to 760-418-8084 or sent to:
    Medicare Audioconference Office
    7790 Barberry Ave
    Yucca Valley, CA USA 92284