Seniors Turned Away, Overcharged Under New Prescription Drug Program

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

The States Step In As Medicare Falters
Seniors Being Turned Away, Overcharged Under New Prescription Drug Program

By Ceci Connolly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, January 14, 2006; Page A01



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/13/AR2006011301738.html

Two weeks into the new Medicare prescription drug program, many of the nation's sickest and poorest elderly and disabled people are being turned away or overcharged at pharmacies, prompting more than a dozen states to declare health emergencies and pay for their life-saving medicines.

Computer glitches, overloaded telephone lines and poorly trained pharmacists are being blamed for mix-ups that have resulted in the worst of unintended consequences: As many as 6.4 million low-income seniors, who until Dec. 31 received their medications free, suddenly find themselves navigating an insurance maze of large deductibles, co-payments and outright denial of coverage.

Yesterday, Ohio and Wisconsin announced that they will cover the drug costs of low-income seniors who would otherwise go without, joining every state in New England as well as California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota and New Jersey.

"This new prescription drug plan was supposed to be a voluntary program to help people who didn't have coverage," said Jeanne Finberg, a lawyer for the National Senior Citizens Law Center. "All this is doing is harming the people who had coverage -- America's most vulnerable citizens."

[salin]

1. Other states taking emergency action include NV, and AZ

this is a huge, huge issue/crisis. I predict a backlash - and bigger rift between DC GOP and state GOP leaders.

[napi21]

2. Well, isn't it just GREAT there are NO Southern States on that list!!!

I wonder if the residents in the South will actually complain, or will they stick with following their Almighty Shrub leader????

[dsc]

7. NC actually had a really great program for the elderly

before this one came on line. The NC program was written to end of the feds came up with one of their own. Our legislature is out of session so I guess our elderly are out of luck. One thing though, our pharmacists did recieve training as I have a good friend who is one.

[madrchsod]

3. it was meant to be a joke

and they did a dam good job of it.

[KeepItReal]

4. "If it ain't broke, f*ck it up" - Bush & Co. standard operating procedure

Add this to the list...

[demosincebirth]

5. What did we expect when the drug companies wrote the prescription

drug plan. Did ya think they were going to make it easy for the seniors?

[demgrrrll]

6. I agree with whoever said what the Dem's need to do is get front and

center immediately and introduce emergency legislation to straighten out this mess then follow up with commercials of Harry and Mable sobbing in the pharmacy because they can't get their prescriptions filled Those little goopers had so much empathy for Mrs Alito I am sure they will understand Harry and Mable's real world problems.

[betterdeadthanred]

8. Just wait till they all find out

about the little bomb Medicare dropped Thursday. They up and removed ten drugs that were suppose to be covered from the formulary. This, after they scared alot of people into signing up by the 1st.

[DocSavage]

9. But what PPO

did that. There are numerous companies offering numerous formularies. We are telling our patients to look for the formulary that fits thier needs. The program sucks bad, it was a result of both sides of the isle being hoodwinked and sold a bad bill of goods. Just wait till the bills start rolling into the treasury, it will be changed in a hurry. And if you think the regular RX side is bad, listen to patients with part D issues.

[Lindacooks]

10. You get what you vote for!!

Lots of seniors voted for Bush*, now they're paying for it. Literally.