Demystifying Medicare Part D with a “Crash Course” for Physicians

As the federal government prepared to roll out its Medicare prescription drug coverage plan, it was clear that—although there were plenty of materials being produced to respond to patients’ questions—patients would very likely turn to their trusted physicians for answers. Ready or not, doctors would be on the front lines. Seeking to prepare doctors for the onslaught—in a way that served patients’ needs while not monopolizing physicians’ time—the Protecting Patients’ Access to Care Coalition (PPACC) turned to Clarendon for support.

Knowing from experience that physicians have limited time to review even important materials, Clarendon went simple: a professionally designed one-page Medicare Part D “Crash Course” answering basic questions that physicians might have, and recommending other sources that patients could turn to for additional information. The one-pager was accompanied by a resource card for patients, which provided phone numbers for local Medicare counselors and other resources.

To capture physicians’ attention, Clarendon teased the Crash Course in advance through an oversized postcard with a straightforward message: “Doctors Are Smart.” When physicians flipped the card over, they read, “That why your patients expect you to know everything. And when the new Medicare Part D prescription drug plans come out this fall, your patients will have lots of questions. Unfortunately, we can’t stop the questions. But we can make them easier to answer.”

The Crash Course materials were distributed to more than 2,500 physicians across the state. The Rhode Island Department of Health linked to the materials in late fall as they launched their public information campaign; the Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs has also cited the materials as a model. Finally, other medical societies in New England have turned to RIMS for support in developing their own materials.