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JOANN STUBBINGS, B.S.PHARM., M.H.C.A., is Manager, Research and Public Policy, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Services; SANDRA F. DURLEY, PHARM.D., is Associate Director, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Services; SWU-JANE LIN, PH.D., is Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy Administration; MARK KLIETHERMES, B.S.PHARM., M.B.A., is Assistant Director, Information Systems, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Services; MEGHANA DESAI ARURU, M.S., is a Ph.D. degree candidate, Department of Pharmacy Administration; CHRISTINA EVANGELISTA, PHARM.D., is Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Services; and MARGARET BYUN, PHARM.D., is Assistant Director, Finance and Administration, Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Services, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago.

Address correspondence to Ms. Stubbings at the Department of Ambulatory Care Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 840 South Wood Street, MC 884, Chicago, IL 60612 (jstubbin{at}uic.edu).

Purpose. An integrated effort to maintain continued access to pharmacy services and prescribed medications for patients in an inner-city community before and during the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit is described. Summary. An academic medical center and college of pharmacy in a culturally diverse, inner-city Chicago community created a strategy to provide uninterrupted pharmacy services to all of their Medicare Part D eligible patients, particularly those dual eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, during the transition from Medicaid to Medicare Part D, effective January 1, 2006. The percentage of dual-eligible patients in the Medicare Part D eligible population at the institution was more than twice the national average. A task force was created to prepare for the onset of Medicare Part D. The task force had goals in three areas: education, outreach, and operations; it was also responsible for the development of a contingency plan for any problems that could happen after January 1. A Medicare drug benefit consult service was formed to ensure that Medicare eligible patients understood the Medicare drug benefit and received customized assistance. Although problems were encountered, the investment in the preparation and implementation of the Medicare drug benefit, especially the consult service, resulted in a positive return on the institution’s investment. Suggestions for other institutions facing the challenge of the implementation of the Medicare drug benefit are provided. Conclusion. Implementing a federal-level program among a diverse subset of patients is challenging and requires concerted efforts from health care providers and support from the institution. The Medicare drug benefit task force at the institution assumed responsibility for all pharmacy activities related to Medicare Part D and achieved its goals in education, outreach, and operations. This resulted in continued access to pharmacy services and prescribed medications for patients. Index terms: Geriatrics; Health-benefit programs; Pharmaceutical services; Prescriptions; Sociology