CBO: Defunding healthcare law could end drug benefits

[cal04]

Source: The Hill

Permanently defunding the healthcare reform law could lead to the end of Medicare coverage for prescription drugs, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Although the Medicare drug benefit predates healthcare reform, the new law made changes to the program — most notably eliminating the so-called “doughnut hole,” in which seniors must pay for their drugs out of pocket.

If the new healthcare law is defunded, the changes to the prescription drug program could not be implemented and Medicare would be unable to offer the benefit, CBO said.

CBO offered the new analysis in response to Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), who asked the budget office to analyze the impact of a permanent ban on funding for implementation of the new law.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/163575-cbo-de-funding-health-law-could-end-drug-benefit

[pnwmom]

1. Brilliant! This will have the Rethugs tied up in knots. n/t

[jwirr]

2. There is so much material for our campaign in 2012. Even if it is old

news seniors like me are going to remember and reject their party. In the last month they have made it perfectly clear that they are the party against all forms of health care.

[cstanleytech]

3. "against all forms of health care." Thats a lie.

They do support varies healthcare plans such as for themselves as well as the military and their plan for the majority of us to "die faster" is just a brilliant plan that should be admired by one and all.

[underpants]

4. As someone who deals with this every day let me say this:

The donut hole is basically a shell out to big pharma
Big pharma is not all bad. They do make necessary drugs for rare diseases and fund a lot of assistance programs.
The 50% discount in the donut hole in 2011 (costs swallowed by the pharmacies) has made a HUGE difference but they didn't lower the end of the donut hole below $4,550.

If you know someone who needs help with Rx check out this site
http://www.needymeds.org/
Even if you don't find direct assistance for your specific drug a call to one of these organizations can start the path to where you need to get to.

[toddwv]

5. The problem is that it needs to be properly "framed":

"Republicans Continue Attack on Medicare and Seniors!"