News 442 Medicare Part D Needs Simplified Los Angeles Times

Over the past month, almost every story about Medicare Part D, the government's new prescription drug benefit, has focused on the turbulence and chaos surrounding the start of the plan. Twenty states have had to bail out pharmacies and pay for 30-day supplies of drugs for seniors whose information got mixed up in the switch from Medicaid to Medicare; many had trouble getting prescriptions filled because ID cards were not distributed on time. But the hardest part for many seniors and disabled was the very first step, choosing a plan. In some states there are up to 70 different plans to choose from, each covering different drugs with different co-pays. The majority of seniors describe the myriad of plans as confusing and complicated. Mark B. McClellan, Medicare Chief, admits that the drug program needs to be simplified. Several other legislators agree. A possibility for simplification includes creating several standard benefit packages similar to those available for Medigap. There is also a proposal to extend the initial May 15 deadline to enroll without paying higher premiums for life.

Read more: Medicare Chief Acknowledges Benefit Snags (Los Angeles Times) Mark B. McClellan says the prescription drug program is confusing and needs simplifying