The 2004 Medicare Handbook covers all the major changes that have been made To The Medicare program since the 2003 edition was published and provides useful information about these changes and how they will impact Medicare law practice and client access to services and benefits. The addition of a new Medicare Part D, creating a Medicare prescription drug benefit in Medicare starting in 2006, represents one of the more significant changes To The Medicare program since its inception. The 2004 Medicare Handbook examines this new Medicare benefit And The interim Medicare-endorsed prescription drug discount card program, which began in June 2004. The 2004 Medicare Handbook also provides information on other Medicare benefit and structural changes, including: Restoration of a moratorium on physical, speech, and occupational therapy caps; Increased payments to managed care plans; Some new preventive benefits and services under Medicare Part B; Increasing the jurisdictional amount for ALJ review starting in 2005; Introducing a cost containment program by creating a new definition of Medicare insolvency; and Changing the name of entities that process Medicare Claims from fiscal intermediaries (Part A) and carriers (Part B) to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) In addition, The 2004 Medicare Handbook retains its celebrated substantive chapter format with detailed citations to relevant statutory, case law, regulatory, and agency manual provisions. As in the past, each chapter is accompanied by appendices containing important documents and charts that facilitate Medicare practice and information sharing.