AAFP President Mary Frank, M.D., seized the opportunity to speak up for patients and physicians at a Sept. 12 meeting in the White House complex.
HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt called the meeting to thank groups, including the Academy, that have formed a coalition -- the Medicare Rx Education Network -- to educate seniors about the Medicare Part D prescription benefit.
AAFP Leader Gives Input on Medicare Part D to HHS Secretary
By Jane Stoever
9/15/2005
"We were the only physician group that contributed money ($10,000) to the network's TV ad campaign to publicize Part D," said Frank in an interview after the meeting. "Besides Sen. Breaux (former Sen. John Breaux, D-La., head of the network), the other folks who were there -- from about 24 organizations -- represented health care systems, insurance organizations or health plans. I was the only one representing physicians and their patients."
Vice President Richard Cheney began the meeting, held in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, by thanking the groups for supporting the effort to publicize Part D. Then he turned the meeting over to Leavitt.
"Secretary Leavitt talked about the Part D rollout and said he wanted to hear what was working, what wasn't working and what we still needed to do," said Frank. "We had an excellent dialogue with him."
Frank thanked Leavitt for the prescription drug benefit. "I pointed out that although Medicare covers more than just seniors, it is seniors who tend to be on several medications and on expensive medications," said Frank. "Many of the seniors have had to make the decision whether to take their medicine or not because they just can't afford it." One aspect of the Part D program is geared to low-income seniors and those with modest means, and it will give them access to prescriptions without any out-of-pocket costs, Frank said. "I thanked Secretary Leavitt for that part of the program."
Reflecting the aim of the network to coordinate information for patients and health care providers, Frank made a request: "I asked for a coordinated effort so patients and physicians wouldn't get bombarded with Part D mailings from multiple sources." She suggested too many mailings from separate sources would confuse patients and physicians. "I told Secretary Leavitt that we physicians needed coordinated communication because patients would be coming to us with their questions," said Frank in the interview.
The coalition groups, said Frank, asked HHS to address what many patients are worried about, including fears that
Vice President Richard Cheney began the meeting, held in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, by thanking the groups for supporting the effort to publicize Part D. Then he turned the meeting over to Leavitt.
"Secretary Leavitt talked about the Part D rollout and said he wanted to hear what was working, what wasn't working and what we still needed to do," said Frank. "We had an excellent dialogue with him."
Frank thanked Leavitt for the prescription drug benefit. "I pointed out that although Medicare covers more than just seniors, it is seniors who tend to be on several medications and on expensive medications," said Frank. "Many of the seniors have had to make the decision whether to take their medicine or not because they just can't afford it." One aspect of the Part D program is geared to low-income seniors and those with modest means, and it will give them access to prescriptions without any out-of-pocket costs, Frank said. "I thanked Secretary Leavitt for that part of the program."
Reflecting the aim of the network to coordinate information for patients and health care providers, Frank made a request: "I asked for a coordinated effort so patients and physicians wouldn't get bombarded with Part D mailings from multiple sources." She suggested too many mailings from separate sources would confuse patients and physicians. "I told Secretary Leavitt that we physicians needed coordinated communication because patients would be coming to us with their questions," said Frank in the interview.
The coalition groups, said Frank, asked HHS to address what many patients are worried about, including fears that
- the formulary may change (it may),
- they won't be able to afford the Part D benefit (this is not expected),
- they may have to make a decision between continuing their MediGap policy or signing up for the Part D benefit (they will have to decide), and
- patients with dual eligibility -- for Medicare and Medicaid -- may have a co-pay or some kind or a deductible (they may).
"The average Medicaid patient has no co-pay or deductible, and often prescription coverage is an automatic benefit of the Medicaid program," said Frank in the interview. "For the dual eligibles, it's a whole new system. They'll wind up with Medicare for health coverage, Medicaid for picking up some of what Medicare doesn't cover and the Medicare Part D benefit if they choose to take it. They'll basically have three insurance plans. Change is hard, and that's where they're going to be -- in the change mode."
Frank said she feared low-income people would not understand that they may very well not have a deductible or co-pay.
According to Frank, Leavitt told the group that because of time limitations in the Part D rollout, HHS understands it won't be perfect, so the department is making plans for handling problems. The sign-up period begins Nov. 15, and Leavitt acknowledged that if early beneficiaries had trouble with the program, others would not sign up.
Frank said she feared low-income people would not understand that they may very well not have a deductible or co-pay.
According to Frank, Leavitt told the group that because of time limitations in the Part D rollout, HHS understands it won't be perfect, so the department is making plans for handling problems. The sign-up period begins Nov. 15, and Leavitt acknowledged that if early beneficiaries had trouble with the program, others would not sign up.
