Saturday, January 28, 2006
Harold Meyerson ["Bush the Incompetent," op-ed, Jan. 25] made much of the difficulties that have arisen during the startup of the Medicare prescription drug benefit program. Yet he said nothing of the good the program is doing for millions of seniors and people with disabilities who are finally getting help paying for their medicines. Nor did he give President Bush credit for getting the prescription drug benefit passed -- something that had been debated for 10 years.
The addition of drug coverage is the biggest change to the Medicare program in 40 years, and any time you make a big change in a small time, unanticipated problems will arise. When Medicare was rolled out in the 1960s, it had problems and plenty of criticism.
The measure of the drug benefit's success is not whether the program is perfect on its first day but whether we solve the problems quickly. We are doing so, and the system is improving every day. The progress is real, and so are the benefits.
MIKE LEAVITT
Secretary
Department of Health and Human Services
Washington
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I was offended by a Jan. 14 front-page story that said that one problem with the Medicare Part D prescription drug program is poorly trained pharmacists. As a pharmacist, I want to say that we were dealt a lemon with this program. It is confusing for those who are to benefit, and it was turned over to companies that have tried to run it on the cheap.
Many pharmacists spent time at seminars on this program or went online to receive training. Others, like me, bought material to train staff and educate the public.
But this program was poorly implemented from the beginning. The Bush administration talks about "faith-based initiatives," but churches were not even contacted. As a pastor, I told my congregation what to expect, and I've made presentations to everyone who has asked for my help in central and eastern Virginia.
Pharmacists are trying to make this plan work even though it takes money out of their pockets. The plan is costing patients and the states more, too.
The blame should be placed where it really belongs: on insurance companies and their partners who can manipulate drug prices.
LEONARD L. EDLOE
Susan, Va.
The writer is a pharmacist and pastor of Antioch Baptist Church.
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Since Jan. 1, more than 16,000 D.C. seniors and people with disabilities have gone without their prescriptions. The Medicare Part D drug plan ostensibly replaced the prescription benefits that Medicaid had provided, but it has failed at every turn.
As a result, people with AIDS have interrupted their treatment because their Part D plan refuses to cover antiretroviral drugs. Patients needing heart medications or insulin suffer days without help. And when they call 1-800-MEDICARE or their Part D drug plans for assistance, they get no response. Despite valiant efforts by pharmacists, community advocates and local officials, the implementation debacle at the federal level leaves people without the care they desperately need.
In three weeks, the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services, part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, has erased much of the progress that the District made in improving access to and continuity of care during the past five years.
BRIAN HAILE
Washington
The writer is the eligibility chief at D.C. Medicaid.
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