Editorial, Opinion Pieces Address Medicare Costs, Rx Drug Benefit
Peoria Journal Star: Now that the enrollment deadline has "passed without calamity ... it's the perfect time for Congress to revisit Medicare Part D," a Journal Star editorial states. "A good starting point would be waiving the penalty on late enrollees," the editorial states, adding that Congress should consider allowing "seniors to switch plans, penalty-free, if their coverage suddenly changes" and enabling Medicare to "negotiate for prescription prices as the Veterans Administration does" (Peoria Journal Star, 5/23).
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), USA Today: During the first year of implementing the new drug benefit, "the late-enrollment penalty meant as an incentive could simply punish America's seniors for problems beyond their control," Baucus, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, writes in USA Today. He says, "Big new programs have glitches, plain and simple," and some "warrant a one-time waiver." Baucus adds, "I don't believe any seniors who signed up for drug coverage before May 15 would begrudge their fellow Medicare beneficiaries a little leeway now" (Baucus, USA Today, 5/23).
Ed Feulner, Chicago Sun-Times: "It's time for Congress and the administration to change Medicare from today's open-ended entitlement to a defined-contribution program, one that adjusts contributions for age, health costs and income," Feulner, president of the Heritage Foundation, writes in a Sun-Times opinion piece. He adds, "[I]f lawmakers won't do something now, they'll have to do something in five years, or in 2018 when Medicare goes into the red. And the sooner they act, the more choices they'll have" (Feulner, Chicago Sun-Times, 5/24).
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Editorial, Opinie Piesele Adresa Medicare costurile, Rx Drug Benefit - Editorial, Opinion Pieces Address Medicare Costs, Rx Drug Benefit - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate