Delay in Drug Benefit Deadline Sought

[Judi Lynn]

Update 3: Delay in Drug Benefit Deadline Sought
By KEVIN FREKING , 01.25.2006, 02:51 PM

Noting that Medicare's new drug benefit is off to a rocky start in some states, a few Republican lawmakers are joining scores of Democrats in pushing for an extension of a May 15 sign-up deadline.

Sens. John Kyl, R-Ariz., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, both raised the issue in a closed meeting with Health and Human Services Department officials and other senators Wednesday.

"I do think we're going to have to look at extending the deadline and recalibrating the penalties because I don't want a situation where, because of this confusion, people decline to sign up, then face a large penalty," Kyl said.
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http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2006/01/25/ap2476399.html