AP: Memo Warned About Medicare Cards (A Day Before the 1st Debate)

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- A day before the first presidential debate, the government's health policy watchdog raised concerns that early mailings to seniors about the new Medicare prescription discount cards championed by President Bush were confusing or inadequate.

"We found that these beneficiaries received very little mail from drug card sponsors that would enable them to make an informed choice among cards," the Health and Human Services Department inspector general wrote in the Sept. 29 internal memo obtained by The Associated Press.

The inspector general, the department's independent watchdog, is now conducting a more formal investigation to determine whether there are widespread problems after detecting concerns in an informal survey of 59 seniors, many whom were relatives of agency employees.

HHS spokesman William A. Pierce said the department is giving little credence to the initial survey because it was so small and unscientific, and officials will wait for the results of the broader review.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-bush-medicare-memo,0,6980584.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[sadiesworld]

1. .

[wabeewoman]

2. "unscientific?"

Uh huh, right. This is an administration that cares so much about science. If we had a real press, the moment he said unscientific, the reporter would have noted how they ignore all science if it doesn't suit their purpose.