Public Comments

The Epilepsy Foundation is actively involved to ensure people with epilepsy have access to a full range of current medications and treatments. When Congress passed the Medicare Modernization Act in 2004, a prescription drug benefit, which became effective in January 2006, was established and will be administered by private plans.

Throughout all phases of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Implementation, the Epilepsy Foundation and partner organizations have provided comments and feedback to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Policy (CMS) and other federal entities. The following archives provides copies of those comments.

• MapRx Letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan 
  Delivered: February 3, 2006
  This February 2006 letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan expresses concerns regarding sign-up messaging for the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, as that messaging relates to the unique needs of beneficiaries with chronic disabilities.
  
• Epilepsy Foundation Letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan
  Delivered: December 22, 2005
  The Epilepsy Foundation, recognizing the efforts expended so far, identified a number of continuing concerns regarding implementation and coverage of the new benefit.
  
  
• Medicare Advocacy Working Group letter (PDF)
  Delivered: June 3, 2005
  This letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan expresses the Medicare Working Groups concerns regarding transition of dual eligible beneficiaries into the Medicare Part D drug benefit.
  
  
• Comments to U.S. Pharmacopeia
  Delivered: November 4, 2004
  As part of the establishment of the Act, Congress mandated that U.S. Pharmacopeia develop a model set of guidelines to assist prescription drug plan sponsors and Medicare Advantage organizations when drug formularies are instituted. U.S. Pharmacopeia is a nonprofit, nongovernmental scientific standards-setting organization whose charge is to ensure the quality and consistency of medicines and to promote the safe and proper use of medications throughout the country.
  
  
• Epilepsy Foundation Comments to CMS
  Delivered: November 4, 2005
  After reviewing proposed regulations for the implementation of the new drug benefit, the Epilepsy Foundation submitted public comments to CMS expressing concerns about the potential impact on Medicare patients' access to needed medications.
  
• Epilepsy Foundation Letter to the Medicaid Commission
  Delivered: November 1, 2005
  This letter to CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan expresses the Medicare Working Groups concerns regarding transition of dual eligible beneficiaries into the Medicare Part D drug benefit.