Q: How would you grade the first weeks of enrollment for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit?
A: It’s too early to issue a final mark. I do agree there have been some unacceptable problems since the drug benefit’s launch on January 1. These problems need to be fixed and fixed fast. By all accounts, everyone is working to do just that and good progress has been made. Within the first month, 24 million beneficiaries have prescription drug coverage. Every day, nearly 90,000 beneficiaries are enrolling in the program and about one million prescriptions are being filled. The new Medicare drug benefit has given millions of people financial help to manage pain and keep diseases from progressing. As chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, I helped steer the legislation through Congress that created the first-ever Medicare drug benefit. From my leadership position, I insisted on making the drug benefit absolutely voluntary and worked to strike the best balance of fairness for beneficiaries and taxpayers. It’s discouraging to hear about difficulties being experienced by some Medicare patients. I’m keeping close tabs on the federal agencies in charge of implementing Medicare Part D to make sure they take quick action to resolve the problems. Three weeks into the benefit, I held a bipartisan Finance Committee meeting with top Medicare officials. In early February, my committee held a hearing at which Medicare administrator Mark McClellan responded to concerns about the implementation. I will continue to seek improvements from the federal officials implementing the drug benefit to make sure they resolve these issues as soon as possible. This includes conversations, committee meetings, hearings and whatever else needs to happen to get the job done. I’ll also continue to seek input from Iowans about their experiences with the new benefit.
Q: Where can Iowans turn to for assistance to enroll in new Medicare Part D?
A: I encourage Iowa Medicare beneficiaries who have not yet enrolled to make the effort to check out Part D. It is in your best interest to act sooner rather than later. The first enrollment phase began last November and runs through May 15, 2006. Those who enroll after May 15 may pay higher monthly premiums.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid offers around-the-clock toll-free assistance at 1-(800) MEDICARE. Iowans with Internet access also may use the comprehensive comparison tool on-line at www.medicare.gov. Iowans also may turn to Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). Trained SHIIP volunteers in 75 Iowa counties stand ready to provide confidential, objective information about Medicare Part D free-of-charge. To locate the nearest SHIIP representative, call (800) 351-4664. Patients need to provide a list of their medications and SHIIP will help match them up with a Medicare-approved prescription drug benefit plan that best fits their needs. The Access to Benefits Coalition (ABC) offers another resource for beneficiaries. The Coalition can provide information through its website at www.accesstobenefits.org or by calling (202) 479-6670.