Posted At MedicalNewsToday.com
BY : Medical News Today
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) launched a "sharp attack" on the new Medicare prescription drug benefit as part of a "barnstorm[ing]" tour of several upstate New York cities on Monday, the New York Times reports. Speaking in Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo at pharmacies, a clinic and a hospital, Rodham Clinton criticized what she said was the Bush administration's failure to solve problems in the new drug benefit. Noting that some low-income Medicare beneficiaries have been charged hundreds of dollars for their medications, she said, "Senior citizens were promised prescription drug coverage; they are now on their own" (Hernandez, New York Times, 1/24). Rodham Clinton has co-sponsored a bill to reimburse states and pharmacies that are providing drug coverage to dual eligibles who have been unable to obtain needed medications. The legislation also would ensure that health plans are following Medicare rules. Health plans that do not follow the rules must be "kick[ed] ... out of the program," Rodham Clinton said, adding, "These are the poorest of our citizens, the sickest of our citizens" (Davia, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, 1/24).
Multiple Forums
According to Long Island Newsday, Rodham Clinton's comments on Medicare were made during "the first of several health care forums geared at hearing constituents' complaints" about health care and "exploring alternative systems" (Thrush, Long Island Newsday, 1/24). She also criticized the Bush administration for enacting policies that she contends drive up medical costs and do little to reduce the number of uninsured U.S. residents (McAuliff, New York Daily News, 1/24). Referring to her own efforts to reform the U.S. health care system in 1993, Rodham Clinton said, "It may be that 12 years ago we tried to do too much too fast, but I think today we're making things worse with deliberate neglect and flawed policies that are diminishing the coverage that Americans have. I'm ready to get back into the fray, knowing how difficult and controversial it is" (Long Island Newsday, 1/24).
Reaction
White House spokesperson Trent Duffy said that the "American people and the Congress rejected" Rodham Clinton's proposal 12 years ago "because it's the wrong prescription for America." He added that U.S. residents do not want a "Hillary-run health care plan that has led to the rationing and the other things we've seen in Canada" (New York Daily News, 1/24). Duffy said, "The Bush administration and the Republican Congress delivered," noting that federal officials are working to address problems in the Medicare drug benefit (New York Times, 1/24). Tracey Schmitt, a spokesperson for the Republican National Committee, said, "Does Hillary really want to talk about health care? The American people were pretty clear in rejecting a program that would have cost hard-working taxpayers billions of dollars" (Long Island Newsday, 1/24).
Proposed Revisions
In related news, Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) on Monday said that he will propose revisions to the Medicare prescription drug benefit, the Detroit Free Press reports. According to Levin, Medicare prescription drug plan sponsors should have the ability to revise formularies only during the open enrollment period and only one time annually. In addition, Levin said that he will propose to:
Eliminate prescription drug copayments for beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare;
Increase assistance to Medicare beneficiaries who previously received medications through assistance programs administered by pharmaceutical companies; and
Eliminate the so-called "doughnut hole," a coverage gap under which Medicare beneficiaries must pay 100% of prescription drug costs.
Levin said that the Medicare prescription drug benefit is "a well-intended program, but there are a lot of seniors who are very confused and a lot who are worse off" (Merx, Detroit Free Press, 1/24). Meanwhile, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) said that the federal government should issue low-income and disabled Medicare beneficiaries $1,000 debit cards for the purchase of prescription drugs. In addition, Emanuel said that he plans to introduce legislation that would reimburse states that have taken steps to ensure access to medications for Medicare beneficiaries under the prescription drug benefit. He said, "A lot of these seniors have been forced into a plan not of their choosing, then they find out the drugs they have to take aren't covered by the plans they're enrolled in" (O'Donnell, Chicago Sun-Times, 1/24). Additional Coverage
Two newspapers on Tuesday examined issues related to Medicare. Summaries appear below.
Chicago Tribune: The Tribune examined how the Medicare prescription drug benefit has affected care for nursing home residents, many of whom are dual eligibles. According to the Tribune, some Medicare prescription drug plans have rejected claims for dementia medications, antidepressants and intravenous treatments that prevent dehydration or treat infections. CMS on Tuesday plans to hold a two-hour conference call with Medicare prescription drug plans and pharmacists to address issues related to coverage of intravenous medications (Graham, Chicago Tribune, 1/24).
Washington Post: The Post examined how House and Senate Republican conferees last month met "behind closed doors" to eliminate a provision in the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill that would have reduced reimbursements to HMOs by $26 billion over the next ten years, according to the Congressional Budget Office. "House and Senate Democrats were excluded from the meeting," which resulted in legislation that would eliminate "all but $4 billion of the projected savings" to Medicare and "save the health insurance industry $22 billion" over ten years, the Post reports. According to the Post, the meeting demonstrates how "Republican congressional lawmakers and leaders are making vital decisions, involving far-reaching policies and billion of dollars, without the public -- or even congressional Democrats -- present" (Weisman, Washington Post, 1/24).
