Definition of Rural in the Context of MMA Access Standards for Prescription Drug Plans

This paper examines how the definition of rural will affect access to rural pharmacies under the Proposed Rule of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Action (MMA), which is to be implemented with full benefits in 2006. It compares differences among commonly used definitions of rural, addresses the risk of exclusion under current MMA access standards, and discusses how multi-State Regions affect the definition of rural. The paper includes figures and maps.