Partisan Torpedo Didn't Sink Medicare Rx

Partisan Torpedo Didn't Sink Medicare Rx

July 14th, 2006 - Some of my favorite visits with Iowans take place inside the local coffee shops and cafes where conversations turn lively when a matter of public policy hits close to home.

A few years ago older citizens and near retirees voiced significant concern about the lack of prescription drug coverage available to those insured by Medicare.

Prescription drugs have assumed a central role in modern medicine. Employers, including the federal government, provide prescription drug coverage to their employees and retirees. Many Iowans expressed frustration. As modern medicine pumped up health care standards for older Americans, Medicare benefits lagged behind.

As a federal policymaker, I appreciate that leading an independent lifestyle for octogenarians and older in many cases depends upon access to affordable health care, including prescription medicines.

As the drum beat for Medicare Rx coverage thundered across America, I worked to ensure the first-ever Medicare prescription drug benefit would remain absolutely voluntary, tailor the greatest benefit to those in greatest need and create competitive coverage to keep the price tag reasonable for patients and taxpayers.

The Republican-led Congress passed the landmark Medicare Prescription Drug, Modernization and Improvement Act of 2003. Last November, the federal government opened the first enrollment phase for the drug benefit, Medicare Part D.

Since then I urged Iowans to make every effort to learn about their coverage choices.

Other political leaders used virtually every opportunity to tell beneficiaries it's too hard too figure out and not worth the effort.

When Medicare launched Part D on January 1, it wasn't entirely unexpected that there would be glitches along the way. But what was arguably unexpected and highly irresponsible was the partisan assault unleashed by Democratic leaders on a program barely one month old.

It is frustrating to see a public policy enacted for the public good turned into a political football. It's a shameful way to serve one's constituency.

Despite around-the-clock efforts by the federal agency running Medicare, hometown pharmacies, insurers and the states working to iron out kinks in the system, the partisan maneuverings to sling mud all over Medicare Part D continued.

Despite the partisan campaign, millions of Americans enrolled in Medicare Part D during the initial enrollment period.

Even so, the partisanship inflicted damage and I heard from Iowans who chose not to enroll based on the negative information they heard from political leaders.

The first enrollment period ended on May 15. Under current law, people who were eligible to enroll in the first six months and did not do so are subject to pay a monthly premium penalty. In my continuing effort to do everything possible to help this program succeed and assist as many Americans as possible, I introduced bipartisan legislation to eliminate the enrollment penalty for 2006. If enacted into law, my bill would mean that Medicare beneficiaries who enroll during the next open enrollment season (November 15 - December 31, 2006) would not be subject to a payment penalty.

My bill would give those who didn't make up their minds a second chance to do so without facing a sign-up penalty through the end of the year.

It would also provide an additional $18 million for State Health Insurance Information programs and Area Agencies on Aging to help finance additional outreach and personalized assistance to unenrolled beneficiaries.

I always say good policy is good politics. And it would seem the partisan effort to torpedo the new Medicare Part D sank once its target audience figured out the value in signing up for the new benefit.

Now three-fourths of Iowa's 499,000 Medicare beneficiaries have prescription drug coverage. That's a remarkable transition considering less than 30 percent had creditable drug coverage prior to Medicare Part D.

As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which bears legislative and oversight authority over the federal agency that runs Medicare, I will continue working to iron out kinks in the system.

That includes my recent efforts to address possible inequities facing small-town independent pharmacies. I've directed the Department of Health and Human Services to review reimbursements paid to rural pharmacies under Medicare Part D.

I have long championed public policy that protects access to affordable health care for rural America. From telemedicine to veterans' health care clinics, ambulance service, local hospitals and independent pharmacies in small town Iowa, I will continue leading the way at the federal level to ensure these vital services get a fair shake in Washington and stay afloat and open for business to serve residents in our rural communities.

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