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US offers senior drug cards amid criticism { May 3 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=bondsNews&storyID=5020845 http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=bondsNews&storyID=5020845 U.S. offers seniors drug cards amid criticism Mon May 3, 2004 05:27 PM ET By Susan Heavey WASHINGTON, May 3 (Reuters) - U.S. officials rolled out the Medicare prescription drug card program on Monday amid criticism that the discount cards are confusing and offer few savings. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson urged seniors to spend about two weeks comparing offers before choosing their card, which they can use starting June 1. "You're going to have time now to do some window shopping," Thompson told a group of elderly people brought in for the announcement. The program, part of the Medicare legislation passed in December, offers the nation's 41 million elderly and disabled Medicare recipients a choice of 73 cards. The cards, which may cost up to $30 a year, are meant to help people pay for medicines until the federal health insurance program starts covering prescription drugs in 2006. U.S. President George W. Bush is touting the program in his re-election campaign. His expected Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry, has blasted it and called for cheaper drugs to be imported from Canada. Not all cards will offer discounts on all medicines, but administration officials have said enrolled seniors can expect up to 25 percent off retail prices. Thompson said the number of cards will drive down prices as companies and other groups selling them jockey to win over seniors. "I expect the prices to continue to fall," Thompson said. 'PALTRY SAVINGS' Critics say the cards are confusing and offer little savings compared to other options, including using Internet-based pharmacies and buying drugs from Canada. "No one in their right mind can make sense of how the cards are going to work, what drugs will be offered and where by what plans, or what paltry savings might be recognized," said Edward Coyle, head of the Alliance for Retired Americans. A recent Families USA report showed Medicare card prices for the top 10 drugs used by older adults, including Pfizer's (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) cholesterol-lowering Lipitor and Sanofi-Synthelabo's (SASY.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) blood thinner Plavix, are higher than those negotiated by the federal government for veterans. The consumer group also found Medicare prices were comparable to those at online retailer drugstore.com. Other critics charge the drug industry with boosting prices to compensate for the price cuts. "Drug companies have already begun increasing their prices so that they can offer 'discounts' without losing a dime in profits," said House Democratic Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi. While enrolled seniors cannot switch cards until an open enrollment period in November, companies can regularly add or drop medications from their plan and change prices. That flexibility could lead card sponsors to "bait and switch," Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack said. Thompson said that sponsors who tried to dupe seniors would no longer be able to sell their cards. "We're going to be supervising these drug card companies very closely," he said in an interview with MSNBC television. Last Thursday officials began posting drug card prices on the Medicare Web site. Prices for 56 cards are available and the rest will be added next week, Thompson said at the announcement. Some card sponsors including Walgreens (WAG.N: Quote, Profile, Research) have said some prices posted on Medicare.gov are inaccurate for a number of reasons, including the difficulty of interpreting Medicare rules for submitting price information. Thompson said the prices listed were accurate. © Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.

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