What A Surprise

Couldn't see this one coming, could ya. NYTimes (01.07.06):

"Low-income Medicare beneficiaries around the country were often overcharged, and some were turned away from pharmacies without getting their medications, in the first week of Medicare's new drug benefit. The problems have prompted emergency action by some states to protect their citizens." States Intervene After Drug Plan Hits Early Snags

"Although there are no hard numbers, concerns expressed by state officials and complaints from pharmacists suggest a widespread pattern of problems." "At least four states - Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Vermont - acted this week to make sure poor people received the drugs they were promised but could not obtain through the federal Medicare program." "Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont, a Republican, said the state would pay drug claims for low-income people until the federal government fixed problems in the new program, known as Part D of Medicare. Michael K. Smith, the state's secretary of human services, said, 'The federal system simply is not working.'" "On Thursday, the Vermont Legislature passed a bill declaring, 'There is a public health emergency due to the federal implementation of Medicare Part D, which has resulted in serious operational problems, causing Vermonters to be turned away at the pharmacy without the drugs they need.'" Not only is this thing as clear as mud, the private sector is doing a bang-up job administering it. "Cynthia G. Tudor, a senior Medicare official, told insurers on Wednesday that they must 'immediately make improvements' to 'ensure that all beneficiaries get their prescriptions filled at the point of sale.'" "In a memorandum to insurers, Ms. Tudor said she had received 'numerous reports' that they were 'inappropriately denying some scripts,' or claims. In many cases, she said, insurers are not providing the data that pharmacies need to file claims and get paid." Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas and Oregon too. "Jane-ellen A. Weidanz, the Medicare project manager at the Oregon Department of Human Services, said, the $250 deductible 'is hitting people very hard,' adding: 'People are very angry and very upset. They are yelling at us. They feel that we lied to them. They feel Medicare lied to them. They feel they cannot trust anything we say about this program.'" So who could be responsible for this monstrosity? Swopa reminds us. NYTimes (11.22.03):

"Under heavy pressure from President Bush and Republican Congressional leaders, lawmakers backed the legislation by a vote of 220 to 215, sending it to the Senate, which is expected to act in the next few days. The vote, which ordinarily takes fifteen minutes to record, was kept open for an extraordinary three hours as Republicans struggled to switch votes and obtain a majority." Divided House Approves Expansion of Medicare

Oh yeah. Them guys.