[20041006]RS21889_医疗保险处方药卡：按国家分列的有资格获得过渡援助的受益人估计数.pdf

1 For more detailed information about the drug card program, see CRS Report RL32283,Medicare Endorsed Prescription Drug Discount Card Program, by Jennifer OSullivan.2 CMS estimated that 7.2 million beneficiaries, including the institutionalized, would be eligiblefor transitional assistance in 2004, and that 65% (or 4.7 million) of them would enroll (FederalRegister, vol. 68, no. 240, Dec. 15, 2003, p. 69891).Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21889Updated October 6, 2004Medicare Prescription Drug Card: Estimates of Beneficiaries Who Qualify forTransitional Assistance, by StateChris L. PetersonAnalyst in Social LegislationDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryThe Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003(P.L. 108-173) established a prescription drug benefit that begins in 2006. Until then,Medicare beneficiaries may select one of the Medicare-endorsed prescription drugdiscount cards that became available in June 2004. Certain low-income beneficiariesmay be eligible for up to $600 in “transitional assistance” in 2004 and again in 2005.This report provides estimates of the numb