For Immediate Release
July 26, 2006

Contact: Jenny Rottmann, MPA Health Care Organizer, (207) 797-0967

Gov. Baldacci and representatives from Maine’s congressional delegation hear from Mainers affected by flaws in Medicare Part D

MPA recognizes the work of Maine leaders to try to ease the implementation of Part D for low-income Mainers, but urges that flaws in the program's design be fixed

PORTLAND—The Maine People's Alliance (MPA) held a Medicare Part D forum on Wednesday, July 26th, at the Chateau Cushnoc Retirement Homes in Augusta. In attendance to hear the stories of individuals affected by the flaws in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program were Governor John Baldacci and representatives from the offices of Maine’s congressional delegation. The event was co-sponsored by Maine Personal Assistance Services Association, Maine Council of Senior Citizens, The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and Americans United.

“When Congress created the Part D prescription drug program in 2003 with the help of lobbyists, they designed the program to benefit the pharmaceutical industry and their other special interest campaign contributors, over the interests of American seniors and people with disabilities,” said Dan Bougeois-Capozzi. “With Part D, Americans get a costly mess of confusion and corruption—billions in handouts to the drug and insurance companies and a maze of cost and confusion for seniors,” he added.

Linda Hicks of Bangor traveled to Augusta to share her experience trying to help her parents enroll. “Medicare part D is so confusing that we’re sure our parents would not have been able to enroll without our help,” she said.

Also speaking about their experiences were Marie Bronn, Resident Service Coordinator at the Chateau Cushnoc Retirement homes, who has had to help many seniors navigate the confusing enrollment process. Neena Quirion of the Maine Council of Senior Citizens said they continue to get calls from seniors looking for help.

MPA recognizes the important work that Governor Baldacci and other Maine leaders have done to try to ease the implementation of Part D for low-income Mainers. But, according to MPA, the following fixes still need implementation:

• Eliminating the enrollment deadline and the penalty for failing to sign up for a plan until Part D is fixed;

• Requiring Medicare to use its free market muscle to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices;

• Closing the “donut hole” gap in coverage between $2,250 and $5,100;

• Allowing seniors the choice of obtaining their prescription drug plan directly from Medicare instead of a private insurance company;

• Prohibit insurance companies from taking medications off their list of approved drugs during any period when someone is not allowed to move to another plan.

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