Vicki Gottlich, senior policy attorney for the Center for Medicare
Advocacy Inc., said she's concerned that the poorest of senior
citizens and the disabled would again have the most significant
problems on April 1st.
Often those beneficiaries were automatically enrolled in a drug plan,
and they will have no idea until next month that their medicine is not
covered.
"To be honest, we've been talking to CMS, and I got the sense they
thought this was an issue," Gottlich said.
The Center for Medicare Advocacy has been critical of the drug
program.
Gottlich said the organization has heard stories of clients with
numerous drugs not covered by their drug plans.
Another advocacy group that has criticized the program, the Medicare
Rights Center, said it's hearing complaints that people calling to
appeal coverage restrictions have been put on hold for more than an
hour.
In other cases, customer service representatives promise to call back,
but never do.
"The plans make it difficult for patients and doctors to navigate the
appeals process," the group said.
From The Associated Press, 3/19/06:
http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=4651504
New Problems for Medicare Drug Program
WASHINGTON (AP) --
Many elderly and disabled Americans enrolled in the Medicare drug
benefit will face new difficulties obtaining their medicines on April
1st, say advocacy groups familiar with the program.
On that date, insurers will have more latitude to tell pharmacists
they won't pay for a particular drug.
Before that, insurers have been told they should pay for a
prescription even if it's not on the list of drugs they cover.
"I think that, after April 1st, you're going to see huge problems with
access. It's going to be January 1st all over again," said TomClark,
policy director at the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.
The association represents pharmacists who serve nursing homes.
________________________________________________________
I'm sure you knew that this, like most other Republican "programs",
would turn into a fiasco.
Harry
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