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Even as Senate Democratic Leaders huddled with White House advisors over the best way to retain maverick U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman's, I-Connecticut, critical 'Number 60' vote, there was reason to believe that one key provision of health care reform already has sufficient Senate support: closing the 'doughnut hole' -- or annual gap in Medicare Part D prescription coverage.Currently, Medicare pays for the first $2,700 in drug coverage in a year, then beneficiaries pay for the amount up to $6,154, at which point Medicare Part D prescription coverage kicks back in, The Wall Street Journal reported. (Subscription required.)
The program sounds reasonable -- except that for most senior citizens, they never make it out of the doughnut hole: they don't have enough money to cover $3,454 worth of prescriptions. The net result? Many go without their prescriptions -- an intolerable and potentially life-threatening circumstance.
The House health care reform bill passed in November closed the doughnut hole, and U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nevada and Majority Leader, said he is personally "committed to closing the doughnut hole once and for all," The Journal reported.
Economic Analysis: The likely Medicare D prescription coverage improvement is just one item that demonstrates why passage of this health care reform bill is essential. There are numerous systemic flaws and gaps that are leading to all sorts of economic and budget distortions and unacceptable health outcomes. The health care reform legislation is not just a universal health care bill: it represents a very good first step toward a health care system that achieves better health outcomes for all Americans, and that reduces cost overruns in both Medicare and Medicaid.
The Medicare Part D prescription improvement also could be bullish for drug makers (but I'll await drug maker comment before evaluating individual companies): right now, there are a lot of seniors who are not buying prescriptions after they reach the $2,700 limit.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-15-2009 @ 6:58PM
YUP said...
Senate Majority Leader Reid committed...
ARTICLE SHOULD HAVE STOPPED THERE.
12-15-2009 @ 7:46PM
richard c dewson said...
say goodby to harry, the election is comming up and you will be gone.
12-15-2009 @ 9:02PM
Ray said...
Vote them all out. It used to be by the people, for the people, now it's BUY the Senator, for the Lobbiests
12-16-2009 @ 1:26AM
Dennis said...
I can't believe it-an honest to God miracle-I never expected the day to come that I would actually agree with Sen Harry Reed on ANYTHING, but- that frickin' donut hole is KILLING me. I'm one of the "millions", I'm sure, that falls into that bottomless pit in the 2nd qtr and simply can't dig my way out before the yr's up; 2 drugs I can't do without are over $300 a mo. for the 2 of them, and 1's a generic. So yeah, I cut back on some of the other stuff, half doses or skip days on some-hell, a generic antibiotic potent enough to treat an acute flareup of my chronic sinusitus is over $100 for a 2 wk round, and most of time have to get another 2 wk rx for same or another $100+ drug cause not well enough yet. So those are automatic $500 mo's before any other reg. meds-for bp, cholesterol, arthritis w/ severe chronic pain, prostate(BPH), gout- hard to decide what to half treat or not treat. Lots of us simply can't afford 6-7-$8000 a yr for meds. We have little money besides SS, but at this rate, sure won't for very long. Believe me, I can't stand Harry Reid, but he get's a gold star if he stands his ground and pulls this off.
12-16-2009 @ 3:30AM
rick said...
Good! The "doughnut hole" NEEDS to be eliminated. And to you "nay-sayers", just wait 'til your old and taking a bunch of medicene and you'll then know what I mean.