CMS Likely Will Not Issue New Waiver For Wisconsin Rx Program
At the hearing, Doyle said that SeniorCare, unlike the Medicare prescription drug benefit, negotiates "big discounts" for the most commonly used medications. SeniorCare in 2006 reduced prescription drug costs for beneficiaries by almost $200 million, Doyle said. According to Doyle, most SeniorCare beneficiaries "love their coverage and don't know what they'll do if it's taken away." He added, "Most of them will be forced into the Medicare Part D program, where they'll face higher payments, more complicated bureaucracy" (Mantell, Dow Jones, 3/28). Doyle also said that the Wisconsin congressional delegation supports a new waiver to allow the state to continue to operate SeniorCare. Additional Testimony
Norwalk said that SeniorCare has not met "budget neutrality" requirements in the current waiver. In addition, she said that private plans under the Medicare prescription drug benefit can negotiate more comprehensive and affordable options for beneficiaries than SeniorCare (CQ HealthBeat, 3/28). Norwalk said, "I don't want seniors to be scared about this. What I'd like to do is work with the state so that (seniors) see as little change as possible." Norwalk added that "we believe the transition to Medicare Part D must be made as quickly as possible," although CMS might allow Wisconsin to continue to operate SeniorCare until the end of the year to make the transition "as seamless as possible." Committee Chair Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) said, "We believe it would be a huge mistake for the administration to pull the plug on SeniorCare," adding, "It costs less, it covers more and seniors are happier" with the program than they are with the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) said, "One Republican principle ought to be to allow the states to be incubators of new and effective programs" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/28). Kohl estimated that SeniorCare saves the federal government almost $500 more per beneficiary than the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Dow Jones, 3/28).
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CMS probabil nu se va elibera de scutire de nou program pentru Wisconsin Rx - CMS Likely Will Not Issue New Waiver For Wisconsin Rx Program - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate