Fewer Problems With Medicare Drug Plans Reported
Pharmacists and patient advocates have reported fewer problems with the Medicare prescription drug benefit in early 2007 than they did in early 2006, when the program began, USA Today reports (Appleby, USA Today, 1/5). Medicare beneficiaries had until Dec. 31, 2006, to enroll in or switch prescription drug plans, and coverage for the 2007 plan year began on Jan. 1 (California Healthline, 1/2).
In early 2006, Medicare beneficiaries experienced problems with access to medications because of computer glitches, long waits at pharmacies and other issues, according to USA Today.
Deane Beebe of the Medicare Rights Center attributed the decrease in reports of problems with the Medicare prescription drug benefit in part to new rules that require health insurers to provide beneficiaries with a 30-day supply of medications previously covered, regardless of whether the treatments are covered for 2007 (USA Today, 1/5).