The set includes a comprehensive table of contents, index, and "finding lists." Additional finding aids, such as chapter tabs delineating major topics, including Medicare Part A, Part B, Exclusions, Fee Schedules, Prescription Drug Plans (etc.) help the user quickly hone in on research areas.
The first two volumes are devoted to explanations of the law: billing, eligibility, instructions, and forms. Volumes three, four, and five include a reprint of the Social Security Act, as amended, along with federal regulations. This section-by-section view includes a detailed review of amendments to each section of the law. Volume six, entitled "Current Development" includes administrative decisions, CMS Letters, information bulletins, and cases.
A valuable component of the Medicare and Medicaid Guide is the archive of materials appearing in volume six. The library's collection of "transfer binders" housing this archive date back to 1974 and span 18 feet of shelf space. In many cases, this paper archive is the most cost-effective means of locating past decisions or guidance on Medicare or Medicaid law. To locate information within the transfer binders, consult the "finding lists" in volume one which will provide a paragraph number assigned to the document.