Dems Eye Medicare Drug Costs Probe (Medicare chief pressured by WH?)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/08/politics/main587236.shtml

Democratic lawmakers are calling for an investigation into whether the Bush administration's Medicare chief pressured a subordinate to withhold estimates of the cost of last year's Medicare legislation.

During months of writing the Medicare prescription drug benefit and other changes to the government-run health program for older and disabled Americans, the administration refused to provide estimates of the legislation.

<snip>

Democratic Reps. Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Rose DeLauro of Connecticut, Rahm Emanuel of Illinois and Fortney "Pete" Stark of California, joined by Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., asked acting HHS inspector general Dara Corrigan on Friday to investigate whether Scully pressured Foster to withhold the estimate last June.

In their letter to Corrigan, the Democrats said the incident fits a pattern of allowing political concerns to override the work of career employees. Foster is a civil servant.

[madfloridian]

1. You know why this makes me furious? My LTTE from last year!

Note: This was known in June of last year...what a sloppy media!

Published last October (my letter to the editor)
"Add Medicare Drug Benefit, But Don't Privatize

"Earlier this year, Medicare chief Thomas Scully threatened to fire his actuary if he released facts about how many millions of seniors would be affected by bringing managed care into the Medicare system as a method of giving drug benefits. He said this about those who were trying to get information to verify facts as to how high costs would rise:

"They don't have the right on the Hill to call up my actuary and demand things," said Scully, chief of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Scully said he would release the analysis "if I feel like it." Quote is from an Associated Press article June 25 by Laura Meckler.

Why can't we know these numbers? Why are they a secret?

It sounds like those who already have coverage in addition to Medicare will be dropped by their carriers and forced into managed care. It does not have to be that way. Talk to your congressional representatives, ask them what is really going on. Tell them to fix the problem, not just use drug coverage as an excuse to privatize.

In a letter from Rep. Adam Putnam he makes this statement: "I will not hesitate to oppose the conference report if it fails to `emphasize' the `private sector' or does not have an effective cost containment mechanism." I do not agree with this. Mr. Putnam needs to answer to senior citizens.

The administration agreed to stop using the term "privatize" because of negative connotations. It does not mean it has stopped doing it.

According to Mr. Scully, we really have no right to know what they are doing. Mr. Scully, we are providing free medical care to the Iraqis. Do you think we might manage some care and respect for our own seniors?...."Used whole letter with my permission.
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