More than 2 million people have voluntarily enrolled for the new Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit in the past month, exceeding projections by the Bush administration. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt touted the enrollment numbers as good news for a program that has stumbled in the early going. The downside is that about 20 states have been compelled to help pay for medicine that many senior citizens and the disabled could not get through the new coverage.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) compared the government’s effort to its response to Hurricane Katrina and called it “slow, inept, and dangerous.” Leavitt acknowledged that the program was not working for some. He said the administration was working feverishly to address concerns.
Some states are taking emergency measures to provide prescription drugs to Medicare beneficiaries. In Arkansas, for example, Gov. Mike Huckabee declared a public emergency and said the state will cover prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries who are unable to obtain needed medications under the Medicare drug benefit. In California, the state will immediately begin covering drug costs for dual eligibles (those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid) who cannot obtain needed medications. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would use his emergency powers to cover the costs for five days and would propose legislation to ensure coverage for the next 15 days.
Illinois launched a plan to pay for prescription drugs for dual eligibles who have been unable to obtain medications under Medicare. Pharmacists will be able to bill the state directly for prescription drugs given to a beneficiary if Medicare’s system denies payment. In New York, Clinton asked Gov. George Pataki to authorize a temporary program to assist Medicare beneficiaries who could not obtain needed medications. Pataki spokesperson Andrew Rush said, “New York is already working to ensure that those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid continue to have access to the prescription drugs they need.”