USP submits drug benefit guideline to Medicare officials.(United States Pharmacopeia)(Brief article)

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- The United States Pharmacopeia submitted its Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Model Guidelines to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Dec. 31. The document specifies general guidelines for the categories and classes of drugs that may be used by plans offering the Medicare drug benefit.

In compiling the guideline, the USP aims to "assure beneficiary access to the drugs they need, [thereby] preventing substantial discouragement from enrollment," according to the organization.

In the submitted guideline, the USP specifies 146 categories and classes of drugs that can be covered by Medicare plan providers starting in 2006, …