Letter Asks CMS To Help Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Enroll in Prescription Drug Benefit
Nearly 150 members of the House Democratic Caucus have sent a letter to CMS Administrator Mark McClellan urging him to take additional steps to enroll low-income beneficiaries in the Medicare prescription drug benefit, CQ HealthBeat reports. The letter asks CMS to take several steps, including working with the Social Security Administration to identify low-income beneficiaries who might be eligible for assistance with deductibles, premiums and copayments.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, said, "The administration must make an extra effort to notify seniors entitled to extra help." CMS spokesperson Jeff Nelligan said the agency will review the letter (CQ HealthBeat, 5/26).