Positions and Views of Mike Crapo
on Prescription Drugs
| Currently Elected United States Senator, Idaho |
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| Prescription Drugs |
Positions and Views |
| Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program for Seniors |
The new Medicare drug program is the largest federal entitlement program to be enacted in four decades. Any time the government undertakes a project of this magnitude, complications will arise. And alarm over problems can obscure good news--as of January 19, 84,000 of the 193,000 Medicare-eligible beneficiaries in Idaho were enrolled under the new Medicare Part D. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, together with local agencies and organizations, currently have 173 sites statewide to help educate and enroll Idaho seniors in the new program.
Challenges remain. I know about confusing new co-payments and formularies, tied-up phone lines and malfunctioning computer systems. These problems are unacceptable and improvements are being implemented. I have been in contact with numerous groups affected by these issues and am working with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to apply solutions.
The current enrollment period ends May 15, so if you or a loved one has not yet signed up for the prescription drug benefit, there are many resources to help you do so. The drug plans might seem complicated at first glance, but with some time devoted to research, recipients will find a plan that will save money.
As we go into the second half of February, it's important to remember that the best time to enroll is the first part of the month. The following information may help: -Twelve insurance plans offering coverage in Idaho have prescription drug plans with no premium for beneficiaries who qualify for extra assistance. -All plans meet Medicare requirements for access to medically-necessary drugs, access to convenient retail pharmacies and access to drugs for those in nursing homes. -All plans are required to meet the minimum Medicare standard which covers an average of 75 percent of drug costs after a $250 deductible up to $2,250. The coverages also pay 95 percent after $3,600 in out-of-pocket costs. -The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA [Response was truncated to maximum response length of 2000 characters.]
Source: Candidate Website (10/02/2004) |
| These are available issue topics for which there were no responses. |
| Prescription Drugs, a General Statement |
| Medicare Prescription Drug Plans |
| Safety of Prescription Drugs |
| Importing Prescription Drugs from Canada |
| Safety of Imported Drugs |
| Increasing Prescription Drug Competition |
| Negotiating Pharmaceutical Prices |
| Bringing Generic Drugs on the Market Sooner |
| Medicare Beneficiaries without Prescription-drug Coverage |
| Prescription Drug Marketing |
| Regulating Drug Advertising, Like Cigarettes and Alcohol |