Jo-Thorne, You can still get Ambien as a senior out of the Part D program. Ask your pdoc for a prescription and not go thru medicare, but you have to pay the full price, which is over $300 for a months supply. So, I switched to Lunesta already, which works for me just like Ambien, with no new rules for it, and it only cost $6.50 on the Part D program.

Medicare will let you have Ambien but at reduced dosage for women (5 mg. instead of 10) They will only issue a total of 90 pills for all of 2015. That's on the Part D program. Of course, you can try to get an exception with your doctor's help.
I would suggest if you need Ambien and are a senior, ask your pdoc about what's going on. They should all know those new rulings by now and can help you.
I strongly believe that people have the right to be treated as individuals , and decisions should be made between the citizen and the doctor, not the gov deciding, and forcing it on everybody thrown into the same bin.