MRCPerspective:
Editorials on Medicare Policy IssuesJuly/August 2004
On the Horizon: No Rest for the Weary—Medicare Debates Continue in 2005
February/March 2004
The Medicare Discount Drug Card and the Low-income Benefit
The Bush Administration's Medicare-Related Problems
Increasing Unhappiness with Privatized Medicare, Increasing Support for a Single-Payer System
January 2004
On the Horizon: Crazy from Too Much Choice
November/December 2003
Questionnaire for Presidential Candidates: Emerging Issues in Medicare
Highlights of the New Medicare Overhaul Bill
Prescription Drug Coverage in the Medicare Overhaul Bill
Medicare Overhaul Bill Promotes Disease Management and Chronic Care Programs
Enrolling In the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
September/October 2003
On the Horizon: Note to Next U.S. President
MRC Letter to Congress: Do Not Dismantle Medicare (PDF)
Medicare Physical Therapy Cap Upheld In Federal District Court
Medicare Prescription Drug Bill Stalled in Congress
House Passes Drug Reimportation Bill
Medicare Savings Programs for People with Low Income
August 2003
July 2003
Freeze on Medicare Physical Therapy Cap
PPOs Concentrated in Areas with Prior Success in Private Medicare Plans
Private Health Plans Could Boost Medicare Costs
House and Senate Pass Medicare Prescription Drug Legislation
June 2003
On the Horizon: The New Math in Washington—Enacting a Universal Medicare Drug Benefit that Adds Up
MRC Letter to Congress: Medicare Benefit Should Include Funding for SHIPS
May 2003
Mental Health Parity Bill Introduced
Drugmakers Team with States to Manage Medicaid Patients
Low-Income Drug Benefit Is Not the Answer
Disabled People With Medicare Struggle to Get Needed Health Care
March/April 2003
A Drug Benefit Should Help Everyone With Medicare in Need
Sharp Rise in Medicare Costs to Hit Consumers
FDA to Crack Down on Canadian Prescription Drug Sales
Trustees Report on Medicare's Financial Outlook
President Bush Unveils Modified Medicare "Reform" Plan
February 2003
Details of Bush Medicare Plan Remains Unclear
2003 Budget Delays Spur Medicare Education Cuts
Medicaid Overhaul Imperils Coverage for Low-Income Older and Disabled Americans
Provider Payment Hike and QI-1 Extension Authorized
January 2003
New Surveys Show Retiree Health Coverage Still Eroding
Older and Disabled Americans Must Be Savvy Health Care Consumers
HHS Officials Hold up Fix to Health Maine Program
Easing the Burdens of Informal Caregivers
December 2002
Study Finds Many Drug Ads Repeatedly Misleading
People with Medicare Want a Choice of Health Care Providers Not Health Care Plans
Regulatory Reform Advisory Committee Issues Recommendations that Reflect Insufficient Consumer Input
November 2002
Drug Companies Restore Discounts for People with Medicare
Bush Proposes Fast Generic Drug Approval
New Medicare Premiums Deductibles for 2003
Medicare Launches New Education Campaign
October 2002
Final Rule Issued for Medicare Drug Discount Cards
Popular Discount Drug Program Raises Prices for Drugs
Drastic Cuts in Medicare Payment for Outpatient Services Proposed
September 2002
On the Horizon: Lessons from 1964—The Success of Medicare
Congress to Increase Medicare Payments to Providers
HMOs Serving 200,000 Elderly and Disabled Adults to Leave Medicare
August 2002
Bush Promotes Medicare HMO Enrollment
Medicare Changes Homebound Guidelines
Rx Benefit Still Not Added To Medicare
Prescription Drug Survey Finds Seniors Skipping Medications
June/July 2002
On the Horizon: Does Your Representative Really Support Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage?
Medicare Needs to Negotiate Rx Prices
Nothing New about "New" Medicines
Mixed Review of Medicare Preventive Care Services
New Coverage Guideline for Injected Drugs
Boutique Medical Care Violates Medicare law
Drug Industry Lobbyists Outnumber Lawmakers
May 2002
Doctors Refusing New Medicare Patients
Medicare Has New Guidelines for Alzheimer's Coverage
Survey Finds Retiree Benefits Declining
March/April 2002
On the Horizon: Pharmaceutical Companies—Love Them or Hate Them?
Bush Administration Recommends FEHBP Model for Medicare
Bush Administration Proposes New Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans
Medicare.gov Nursing Home Information Not Accurate
February 2002
President Bush's Medicare Budget Inadequate
More Coverage for Colon Cancer Screening Needed
Study Finds 90 Percent of Nursing Homes Don't Have Enough Staff
January 2002
On the Horizon: Reading Between the Lines—Pharmaceutical Company Discount Cards
Medicare to Cover Nutrition Therapy, Pain Management
Sick People In Medicare HMOs Face High Costs
Study Shows Drug Discount Cards Give Little Savings
More Consumer Representation Needed on HHS's New Regulatory Reform Committee
1997-2001