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Jeanne Finberg
Directing Attorney, National Senior Citizens Law Center
The biggest change in our health care system in 40 years, the new prescription drug bill, entitled Medicare Part D, begins on January 1, 2006.
Q: What is the new policy change planned for Medicare?
It's a new prescription drug benefit. It's called Medicare Part D, and it will be available for 43 million Medicare beneficiaries.
Q: What does the new prescription drug benefit mean for seniors?
It's very complicated. The new program is touted as voluntary, but in certain ways, it's not voluntary for everyone because the lowest income Medicare beneficiaries, the people who are now on Medicaid, the dual eligibles, lose their Medicaid coverage when Medicare Part D comes in, and they will be automatically enrolled--that's 6.8 million people--will be automatically enrolled in the program.
Q: What do physicians think about the plan?
They're worried. Mostly people are confused. There's complaints about what the plans might do, and because the plans won't really be unveiled until the fall, we don't really know exactly. All we know is what requirements that the law has, and those are less requirements than are under current Medicaid programs. So we'll see in the fall what the choices are, but we're expecting restrictions.
Jeanne Finberg is a staff attorney with the National Senior Citizens Law Center in Oakland, CA. She specializes in senior health issues, particularly Medicaid and long term care, and works to protect seniors from financial abuse.
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The National Senior Citizens Law Center promotes the independence and well-being of low-income elderly individuals and persons with disabilities.
The Center for Medicare Advocacy provides up-to-date information for those trying to sort through the complexities of Medicare.
California Health Advocates is a nonprofit organization that works on behalf of California Medicare beneficiaries.
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Published: September 15, 2005
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