Booman Tribune

Mike Rogers R-MI Blamed For Medicare D Problems

by Street Kid
Wed Jan 18th, 2006 at 03:07:46 PM EST

From the Lansing State Journal:


The new Medicare prescription drug program is causing all sorts of problems in Michigan and nationwide... a solution...Rewrite the Medicare program now...

It is the opinion of the writer that there are three  flaws in Medicare D, specifially, the cost, the opinion that the program is too broad, and,

The program is a giveaway to pharmaceutical firms because Congress barred Medicare from negotiating deep discounts in drug prices - a practice used effectively in other government programs.

Now for the blame:

It could have been different, of course. A drug benefit targeted solely to the neediest...could be in operation now, had Congress not, instead, endorsed the existing, flawed law -thanks in large measure to mid-Michigan Congressmen Dave Camp, Vern Ehlers and Mike Rogers.

Results For Roll Call Vote on HR 669, Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, Modernization Act

And what about this conclusion?

Had these three Republicans voted the other way in 2003, the Medicare plan would have failed in the House. And America would now be much closer to real health reform.

continued below

And now from the Detroit News

Medicare beneficiaries, pharmacists, health experts and members of Congress have complained about difficulty obtaining accurate beneficiary information and about inadequately staffed government telephone "help lines."

Wonder where I've heard that before?

One problem tho.  Medicare's lines?  You can't get through.

So, instead of examining the flaws in Medicare D, here is the solution:

the number of operators on the telephone help lines for pharmacists has been increased from 150 on Jan. 1 to 4,500 and that individual case workers have been added to help solve specific problems.

Instead of leaving the pharmacy empty handed or having paid too much money for their drugs, Leavitt said beneficiaries should ask their pharmacist for help or call (800) MEDICARE and get help solving their specific problems.

No one I talked to on that 800 number knew wtf was going on.  Now, a new, untrained staff is going to magically solve all of the problems??

Right!!!



Display:
Or else it's some type of computer glitch...

It wouldn't overwhelm the Treasury or government computers.

Where have I heard that one before?

"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 03:10:38 PM EST
Thanks for this article Kid!  I live in Mi. 8th.  Local Dems will be interested readers of this.  

It is time for Democrats to remember who got us in this mess, oppose them and not each other.
by keepinon (jaukkuri@sbcglobal.net) on Wed Jan 18th, 2006 at 07:10:02 PM EST
Me too!!!!!

"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 07:54:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

According to WaPo, Washington will shortly be launching a new PR effort to explain that the program is wildly successful, and debunk rumors of problems.

one man's conspiracy is another man's business plan
Blog updated as needed
by DuctapeFatwa (DuctapeFatwa@yahoo.com) on Wed Jan 18th, 2006 at 09:57:04 PM EST
Got an error message when I tried to find it...link, please?

"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 10:17:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I am sorry, I can't find the link, but I am sure the story will turn up, even if my link doesn't.

one man's conspiracy is another man's business plan
Blog updated as needed
by DuctapeFatwa (DuctapeFatwa@yahoo.com) on Wed Jan 18th, 2006 at 10:32:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]
http://tinyurl.com/arqqz

'Poverty is the worst form of violence'--Gandhi
by chocolate ink on Wed Jan 18th, 2006 at 10:56:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
WTF??????????????????????

. It also has notified insurers that if a drug is not going to be covered, the plans must provide a 30-day "transitional" supply until the patient's physician can recommend a comparable medicine that is covered.

Hello, it took 8and 1/2 years for my doctors to determine which doseages of anti-convulsants would work for me!!!!  And now, one month to find something else?  How stupid is that?  God!

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

by Street Kid on Thu Jan 19th, 2006 at 12:19:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]
yes, anyone with something like epilepsy or mental health problems don't just take one pill or combination right away and that's it for them..as you said sometimes it can take years to get correct dosage right for certain health problems...as you said..WTF

'Poverty is the worst form of violence'--Gandhi
by chocolate ink on Thu Jan 19th, 2006 at 01:45:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yeah, and as I said earlier, I live in MI 8th.  If anyone thinks that I'm not going to fight this one, they've got another thought coming.  Hell, I did not beat a tbi, walk away from a car accident that could have been worse (fuel filter cracked and there was leaking gasoline, I didn't know it, the car was still driveable and I kept on driving--and I was NOT hurt!), and pneumonia (although I am still taking it easy) for nothing!

I remember, after the car accident, when I got home, I laid down on the couch and my cat jumped on top of me--same thought kept running thru my head--I was meant to be here!  More so than after the tbi--I was really out if it then, but felt something so vague, I really can't describe it.

Delayed reaction after the car accident--was walking thru the grocery store a few days later and it all hit me--I yelled out, "Holy shit, I could've been killed."  Told one of the managers what happenned, now he calls me Lucky!

I ain't out of this one yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

by Street Kid on Thu Jan 19th, 2006 at 03:16:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It did, thanks for the info!!!!  

"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi
by Street Kid on Thu Jan 19th, 2006 at 12:38:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]
It's official...Marky McClellan of Medicare says that Medicare will NOT be paying the states back for their emergency measures of funding...what a fucken surprise right.  He said it is up to the states to get the money back from the insurers...hahaha and I won't hold my breathe on that plan either. So after all Arnie's big talk here that CA. would be repaid by the government we are now apparently out about 70 some Million dollars and counting for this continuing clusterfuck.

http://tinyurl.com/cqktk link to Mercury News article.

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

by chocolate ink on Wed Jan 18th, 2006 at 09:40:03 PM EST
LSJ LTE
A recent LSJ editorial rightly castigated mid-Michigan's Republican members of Congress for their support of the misguided, convoluted, budget-busting Medicare drug benefit.

The Bush administration and its lackeys in Congress rushed this wasteful legislation into law for the 2004 elections...

They have, in fact, routinely rubber-stamped outrageous Bush legislation for five years.

...editorials almost invariably support incumbents - no matter how awful and undeserving - because they "represent their districts" better than their opponents.

What a terrible justification, eerily reminiscent of Sen. Roman Hruska's infamous line that lousy U.S. Supreme Court nominees should be confirmed because mediocre people deserve representation too.



"First, they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." Mahatma Gandhi
by Street Kid on Thu Feb 2nd, 2006 at 05:49:31 PM EST


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