neuroscienceCME webcasts are offered as a one-hour, live and interactive presentations, enhanced by a live Q&A segment during which the faculty presenters can respond to audience comments and questions posed by text via the webcast interface, fax, or phone. Online CME/CE credit is offered to participants upon completion of the activity, at www.neuroscienceCME.com/test.

Premiering Wednesday, February 6, 2008, from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. ET, "Evaluating the Impact of Medicare Part D on Persons with Severe Mental Illness" will educate practitioners about the impact of Medicare Part D on patients with severe mental illness and provide guidance on strategies for delivering optimal care to these patients in light of policy restrictions.

Two additional dates are being planned during which live Q&A on this subject will again be offered. Live CME/CE credit will be offered for each of these additional dates. Please visit www.neuroscienceCME.com/cmea.asp?ID=283 for updates.

This CME/CE activity will also be available as an on-demand archived webcast, podcast, and telephone audioconference shortly after the live webcast.

To participate, visit www.neuroscienceCME.com 15 minutes prior to the live date and time, and click on either the "View Live Webcast" or "Participate in Live Dial-In" icons.

Statement of Need:
Patients with severe mental illness (SMI) have a higher prevalence of medical conditions than the general population, and generate more than twice the overall healthcare costs. Contributing to this problem are the general under-recognition of medical conditions in patients with SMI and their general lack of access to quality care. Thus, it is not surprising that patients with SMI are substantially impacted by policy decisions that revise Medicaid eligibility standards, lower payments to providers, and complicate access to new medications in an attempt to control rising healthcare costs. In particular, the implementation of Medicare (MMA) Part D, which shifted pharmacy dollars to Medicare for dually eligible individuals, has had a significant impact on this population. A recent survey of psychiatrists indicated that MMA Part D has contributed to confusion and problems for physicians in maintaining continuity of care for SMI patients. This situation has created a strong impetus for expanding strategies for delivering highly cost-effective care to SMI patients. In this interactive webcast, faculty will review key components of MMA Part D that impact SMI patients and identify strategies to ensure continuous care and maximize the likelihood of a positive outcome.