Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deane Beebe
Communications Director
212-204-6219
Medicare Rights CenterSeptember 29, 2005
6.4 Million Americans at Risk of “Catastrophic Human Consequences” Caused By Medicare Drug Transition New York, NY – When 6.4 million Americans are transitioned from Medicaid to Medicare prescription drug coverage on January 1, 2006, foreseeable gaps in drug coverage could have “catastrophic human consequences,” according to a new report by the Medicare Rights Center.
“The poorest, sickest, and oldest Americans face grave risk of losing their life-saving medications once the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s,” said Robert M. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer service group.
“President Bush must ask Congress to erect a safety net to avert this inevitable harm to the frailest Americans. It should extend Medicaid drug coverage during the perilous transition,” said Mr. Hayes.
People with both Medicaid and Medicare, the “dual eligibles,” will be automatically transferred into the hundreds of private companies offering Medicare drug plans, leaving no room for computer or human error, warns the consumer group in 6.4 Million at Risk: Protecting the Poorest Americans During the Medicare Drug Transition. Medicare drug coverage differs from Medicaid drug coverage in regards to the specific drugs that are covered, the pharmacies that accept the coverage, and the availability of emergency supplies pending appeals when plans deny coverage of prescribed medications.
The report identifies serious risks the transition poses such as people falling through the cracks of complicated data exchanges between and among the Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, drug plans and states; losing coverage because of formulary and pharmacy network limitations; and not understanding changes in their coverage enough to navigate the complicated new system.
"People with mental illness are especially vulnerable to abrupt shifts in medicines," Mr. Hayes said. "Perhaps the most significant factor in allowing people with mental illness to live decent and stable lives is compliance with an effective and consistent medication plan."
“Even if they get it 95 percent right, over 300,000 of the frailest people with Medicare won’t have access to their medications, resulting in more hospitalizations, disease progression and premature death,” said Mr. Hayes. “And, that’s being optimistic.”
The solution that the Medicare Rights Center proposes is that Congress extends the availability of Medicaid as a backup during a reasonable transition to Medicare drug coverage.
The Medicare Rights Center’s report 6.4 Million at Risk: Protecting the Poorest Americans During the Medicare Drug Transition is available online at http://www.medicarerights.org/drugtransitionreport.pdf. The report was produced by the law firm Manatt Phelps & Phillips in consultation with the Medicare Rights Center.