Online Education Program on Medicare Part D for MS

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Jacobs Neurological Institute at the University at Buffalo has developed an online education program on Medicare Part D for physicians treating patients with multiple sclerosis.

"Medicare Part D: Implications for Physicians and Patients" was developed by the Kenneth Alford Medical Education Center, the continuing-medical-education arm of the institute.

The program is available at http://www.thejni.org/cme/medicareD. It also is available to the general public for information purposes.

Frederick E. Munschauer, M.D., chair of the Department of Neurology in UB's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and medical director of the center, said the program helps physicians better understand the impact that Medicare Part D will have on their neurology practices and specifically on their MS patients.

"There is a strong need for physicians treating MS patients to have access to credible, specific, and thorough information on this timely and confusing topic," he said. "Currently, physicians and patients know very little about these complex new drug provisions. Patients are turning to their physicians for advice on plan enrollment, prescription benefits, and future ramifications. The characteristics of each plan may have implications for physician prescribing patterns."

The UB medical school, accredited by the Accreditation Council for CME to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians, designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The program was developed through support from Biogen Idec, Pfizer, Serono, and TEVA Neuroscience.