Booman Tribune ~ A Progressive Community

Medicare D Problems Recognized

by Street Kid
Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:01:47 PM EST

Finally, it has actually been admitted that there are serious problems w/Medicare D.

Such as:

Since the Bush administration's prescription medicine program began on Jan. 1, tens of thousands of elderly people have been unable to get medicines promised by the government. Some 20 states have had to jump in to help them.

Some of the specifics were detailed here:

most of these insurance companies aren't notifying the people that they're servicing..

and

a lot of people who qualify for extra help were put in as regular enrollees. Which means they're in for a lovely little $250.00 deductable. Plus they're NOT going to be paying their 1-3 dollar Copays. They're looking at fifty plus bucks a script.

and

national chain drugstores are now denying eligible people their drugs.

continued below

And here are responses by a few of the Democrats:

Senator Edward Kennedy referred to Medicare D as

"systemwide failure" that..."puts the health of our frailest citizens at great risk."

Senator Hillary Clinton compared this to the government's response to Hurricane Katrina, calling Medicare D a

"man-made disaster".

Fourteen Democratic governors signed a letter to George W. Bush, which stated that

"The time for all levels of government to act is now."

There is concern about the consequences of Medicare D, as senior citizens do vote regularly and may take their frustration w/Medicare D out on those who supported it. (Awwww!) Annother concern is the fact that many senior citizens are getting help understanding the plan from their baby-boomer children, who also vote!

Perhaps it was summed up best by Paul C. Light, a professor of public service at NYU,

"It's a very complicated program. I'd like to ask the president to explain it himself...If the president and the Cabinet had to enroll, I think they might soon find out that this is a very tangled web of promises that are difficult to unravel."

That is, if he, if fact could explain it. Hell, it wouldn't suprise me if I knew more about the intricacies of how the damn thing actually worked than those idiots who voted for it!

Medicare D Problems Recognized | 18 comments (18 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (4.00 / 7)

When I was attempting to find out exactly wtf was going on w/this program, I got so many different answers from so many people who were supposed to "know" or "advise" people about what was supposedly best...

No one knew exactly what was what...I was basically in "raise-hell-and-hope-for-the-best" mode.

What a nightmare!

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:06:03 PM EST

I don't think the politicians have to worry about (4.00 / 5)

too many adversely affected seniors taking it out on them at the ballot box.

Diebold or just plain dying will take care of that problem.

one man's conspiracy is another man's business plan
Blog updated as needed

by DuctapeFatwa (DuctapeFatwa@yahoo.com) on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:14:14 PM EST

Re: I don't think the politicians have to worry ab (4.00 / 3)

I guess that's one way to solve the social security "prolem".

by CabinGirl on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:18:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hey it worked great in New Orleans (4.00 / 3)

Their Medicare costs are WAY down.

one man's conspiracy is another man's business plan
Blog updated as needed

by DuctapeFatwa (DuctapeFatwa@yahoo.com) on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:30:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hey it worked great in New Orleans (4.00 / 3)

Spreading to other states now???

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:34:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't think the politicians have to worry ab (none / 0)

(problem)

by CabinGirl on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:18:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't think the politicians have to worry ab (none / 1)

Yeah, one way to balance the budget!

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:32:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I don't think the politicians have to worry ab (none / 0)

Damn! So that was the whole idea re: this crap!

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:31:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (4.00 / 4)

Haven't seen the details but heard that the State of CA is stepping in to cover the shortfalls from Medicare for our seniors. As the news reader put it - 'this is literally a matter of life and death'.

It will be interesting when we see how much our state is going to get screwed by the Feds on this deal.

[/partial snark
Hmmmm....we are known for suing the Feds / FERC / etc....maybe we can sue Medicare and get our money back
at pennies on the dollar...yeah right
[/end snark

by SallyCat on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:35:11 PM EST

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (4.00 / 6)

At my class last night, the retail pharmacists in the group mentioned that Medicare D is a mess, but that the state (they're in NJ) is picking up the tab until things get straightened out. It obviously didn't occur to them that the state is going to lose out on the deal; they just knew they were getting paid.

by CabinGirl on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:45:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (4.00 / 2)

'this is literally a matter of life and death'.

You got that right!

Really wish to hell that all the congresscritters who supported Medicare D would handle figuring out all of the regulations, but, nooooooooo, they have gold-plated BCBS!

If they had to go thru all the bullshit I had to re: rx's, that plan would be repealed so FAST...

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:47:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (4.00 / 3)

Detroit Free Press

Truth is, Washington had to be shamed into ordering that all Medicare prescriptions be filled for the first month of the program. At least nine states had already set aside money they do not have to make sure their citizens get the drugs they need. As many as one-fifth of the 1 million California residents who switched into the program Jan. 1 may have been wrongly denied their medications, officials told the Los Angeles Times.
What an abomination.
Many senior and disabled citizens have dutifully been doing what the government told them to -- reviewing their options and signing up before Jan. 1 -- only to spend countless hours dizzied by a Web site or on endless hold waiting to get questions answered or applications completed. To then find themselves "lost" by the people administering the benefit -- regularly hailed by the Bush administration as the most significant improvement in Medicare's 40-year history -- is worse than infuriating. It's dangerous.

No one even asks: What about next month?

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 11:11:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (none / 0)

Yes, that's what I'm wondering also...this clusterfuck isn't going to go away in a few weeks. And remember these plans are only good for a year, every year you have to reup with whatever plan you have or try a new one..at least that's my understanding?

This whole thing about so many states called for emergency funding and as Arnie says he knows the feds will pay us back..yeah dream on.. I think I mentioned before also that the states all have to 'pay back' to the federal governmet all the money they supposedly are saving by having so many people go off the state Medicaid drug programs and onto this new Medicare plan. Some formula in that drug bill showing how states are supposed to figure out how much to pay to D.C. for all the money we're saving..so how will that help the states anyway..and why did the feds want that money back? I'd really like to know what other surprises like that are in that Medicare drug bill.

'Poverty is the worst form of violence'--Gandhi

by chocolate ink on Wed Jan 18th, 2006 at 03:45:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (none / 1)

Don't know if you caught my newer diary (link downthread) but my congresscritter is none other than Mike Rogers, R-MI.

Plan on raising hell w/his office, the papers, the whole 9 yards...Hell, in addition to being a traumatic brain injury survivor, I also have epilepsy. Know what happens if anti-convulsants are suddenly withdrawm? A condition called status eppilepticus, which, loosely defined is non-stop seizures that can result in death. First question that I am asking: "Is it my patriotic duty to drop dead in order to balance the federal and state budget(s)?"

These assholes who voted for this thing have got to realize, this ain't a game here, people could die as a result of this crap!

(Still sleeping most of the day, taking it easy while I recuperate...Check what's going on here now and then.)

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Wed Jan 18th, 2006 at 07:07:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (4.00 / 5)

TPM reader J had some interesting things to say yesterday.

I have been surprised by the amount of silence on Medicare Part D in the blogosphere. A fiasco of this magnitude deserves the same sort of deafening response that the FEMA response received. This has become a big, big story this month which has given many likely voters a significantly negative personal experience with Republican corruption.
Public health emergencies have now been declared in twelve states. There will be political consequences for the party responsible.

It's worthwhile reading the whole post. This should be a huge issue in 2006.

by Brementown Musician on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:54:34 PM EST

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (none / 1)

Am checking it out now! Thanks!!

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 07:57:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Medicare D Problems Recognized (none / 1)

Found 1st article linked to by accident! Felt it extremely important to diary.

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Tue Jan 17th, 2006 at 08:27:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Probs Recognized/Blame/ "remedy" link (none / 0)

here

link to newspaper article blaming MI repubs, Mike Rogers, R-I named specifically

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi

by Street Kid on Wed Jan 18th, 2006 at 03:29:43 PM EST

Medicare D Problems Recognized | 18 comments (18 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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