January 24, 2006
Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Life-Saving Prescription
Drugs
By Jon Kyl
“Social
Security offices around the country are being swamped with questions
about how to use the [new Medicare] card.” “Many
doctors and hospital administrators, as well as patients, do
not understand the program.”
These are
excerpts from a front-page story in the July 1, 1966 edition of
the New York Times about the original Medicare program.
Critics at the time said the President -- Lyndon Baines Johnson
-- had “failed tragically” to prepare for the start
of Medicare.
Yet, as
we all know, despite the rocky start, Medicare has evolved into
one of the most successful programs in our nation’s history
- part of the bedrock contract between our government and senior
citizens. I believe that the new Medicare prescription-drug benefit
will be just as successful once initial implementation problems
are resolved.
By now,
we’ve all seen the stories about some seniors having difficulties
getting the prescription drugs they need. Fortunately, the problem
does not appear to be as widespread in Arizona as in some other
states, but one senior left without the medicine he or she needs
is one too many. (Of course, before this program, the government
provided no Medicare drug benefit.)
The good
news is that Medicare appears to be moving quickly to resolve
these initial problems. According to the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS), an additional 4,400 people have been
hired to man customer service and eligibility verification phone
lines, which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
CMS is holding weekly conferences with pharmacy associations to
ensure that pharmacists have the most complete, up-to-date information
about the new benefit. And the agency has contracted with a national
prescription-drug plan to provide interim coverage so that no
one is turned away.
While there
have been some problems, far more has gone well. Since coverage
became available on January 1, almost 24 million seniors have
been enrolled; the program has filled about 1 million prescriptions
a day. According to a poll by Ayres, McHenry and Associates, 51
percent of seniors responding said they expected the new Medicare
prescription-drug plan would save them money. Fifty-seven percent
said it was worth the time and effort to evaluate the many drug
plans available to them.
The challenge
is to continue to build on these positive developments, while
solving problems as quickly as possible. If an individual is unable
to get needed medication in an emergency situation, his or her
pharmacist should call 1-800-MEDICARE and tell the customer service
representative that a beneficiary has an emergency situation.
Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt has pledged:
“If you are one of those seniors experiencing problems,
our message is: Don’t leave the pharmacy without your drugs.”
“There is no reason for you to go without your medicines
. . . or for you to have to pay more than you owe.”
If you are
experiencing difficulty obtaining the drugs you need, here are
some important phone numbers for you to remember:
·
For Medicare customer service, call 1-800-MEDICARE;
·
The federal government has agreements with state health insurance
programs that offer free one-on-one health-benefits counseling
for Medicare beneficiaries. Arizona seniors who wish to make an
appointment should call (800) 432-4040;
·
You can also call the customer service number for the health plan
in which you are enrolled; or
·
Call one of my offices: in Phoenix, (602) 840-1891; in Tucson,
(520) 575-8633; or in Washington, (202) 224-4521.
I am proud
to have served on the House-Senate conference committee that helped
write the new Medicare prescription-drug law, which brings Medicare
into the 21st century. Many life-threatening ailments once treated
only by surgery are now treated, with better results, with prescription-drug
regimens that allow people to live healthier, more productive
lives. I am encouraged by participation in the program so far.
I am also committed to fixing as quickly as possible implementation
problems that arise.
Sen.
Kyl serves on the Senate Finance and Judiciary committees and
chairs the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Visit his website
at www.kyl.senate.gov.
