Hulud
03-17-2006, 11:58 PM
WASHINGTON - Many elderly and disabled Americans enrolled for the Medicare drug benefit will face new difficulties in obtaining their medicines on April 1, say advocacy groups familiar with the program.
On that date, insurers will have more latitude to tell pharmacists that they won't pay for a particular drug. Before that, insurers have been told that they should pay for a prescription even if it's not on the list of drugs they cover.
"I think that, after April 1, you're going to see huge problems with access. It's going to be January 1 all over again," said Tom Clark, policy director at the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. The association represents pharmacists who serve nursing homes.
Government officials said the Medicare drug benefit covers most of the drugs commonly used by seniors and the disabled. They say beneficiaries who take those drugs will have nothing to worry about come April 1.
More (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060318/ap_on_go_ot/medicare_drugs)
On that date, insurers will have more latitude to tell pharmacists that they won't pay for a particular drug. Before that, insurers have been told that they should pay for a prescription even if it's not on the list of drugs they cover.
"I think that, after April 1, you're going to see huge problems with access. It's going to be January 1 all over again," said Tom Clark, policy director at the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. The association represents pharmacists who serve nursing homes.
Government officials said the Medicare drug benefit covers most of the drugs commonly used by seniors and the disabled. They say beneficiaries who take those drugs will have nothing to worry about come April 1.
More (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060318/ap_on_go_ot/medicare_drugs)