Press Release             

See Also: Issue brief

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deane Beebe
Communications Director
212-204-6219
dbeebe@medicarerights.org
Medicare Rights Center

March 2, 2005

6.4 Million People with Medicare Face Risk of Losing Prescription Drug Access Under the Medicare Drug Bill

New York, NY – In a new analysis on the problems people with both Medicare and Medicaid will face when they transition from Medicaid to Medicare drug coverage in January 2006, the Medicare Rights Center recommends that Congress extend Medicaid for a reasonable period during the transition to ensure that there are no catastrophic consequences due to the disruption of drug regimens.

“MMA and Dual Eligibles: A Transition in Crisis,” will be made available to members of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging who are holding a hearing tomorrow on the “Implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act: Delivering Prescription Drugs to Dual Eligibles.”

“The nearly six-and-a-half million ‘dual eligibles’ have the unfortunate distinction of being at greatest risk of being harmed by the MMA. They face the likely prospect of losing their comprehensive drug coverage come January 1, 2006,” said Robert M. Hayes, president of the Medicare Rights Center, a national consumer service organization.

“In our view, it is essential that the federal government act swiftly to ensure that it does not violate the most fundamental principal of health care: do no harm. We look to Congress to ensure that their transition to Medicare drug coverage is smooth and assures that they can get the drugs they need when they need them,” said Mr. Hayes.

“MMA and Dual Eligibles: A Transition in Crisis,” is available at the Medicare Rights Center’s website at http://www.medicarerights.org/MMA_duals.pdf

_________________________________