Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Medicare Chief Challenges Predictions of Out-Of-Pocket Costs
Reuters Health story at Medscape - "The head of the U.S. Medicare program Tuesday said that newly released estimates showing that patients' out-of-pocket spending on services covered by Medicare will consume an ever-larger share of retirement income are being taken out of context. ... The chart, which the Bush administration chose not to publish as part of the annual Medicare trustees' report last March, was released to Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., in August, and parts were published in a front-page story in Tuesday's editions of the newspaper USA Today." "med"  
  

Guidelines Raise Questions About Drug Availability
Page at the NAMI web site - "The New York Times reports that changes to Medicare have set off a battle over which medications will be available to Medicare recipients. The new law requires Medicare benefits to be administered by private health plans but does not specify which drugs will be covered, leaving each plan to draw up its own list of approved medications, known as formularies. Consequently, Medicare consumers find themselves caught between the drug companies, who want as many drugs as possible included on the formularies, and the health insurers, who want to limit the formularies to contain costs..." The page includes links to the Times story and other related NAMI resources.  
  

Words, Actions at Odds on Children's Health Care
Washington Post story - "In his convention address in New York, President Bush announced a new $1 billion initiative to enroll "millions of poor children" in two popular government health programs. But next week, the Bush administration plans to return $1.1 billion in unspent children's health funds to the U.S. Treasury, making his convention promise a financial wash at best. The loss of $1.1 billion in federal money means six states participating in the State Children's Health Insurance Program face budget shortfalls in 2005; it is enough money to provide health coverage for 750,000 uninsured youngsters nationwide, according to two new analyses by advocacy organizations..." [Viewing Washington Post stories requires registration, which is free.]