Thank you, OFT!
Posted on June 28, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list
Certainly not a good record for Medicare Advantage plans and STRS is considering "piloting" such a plan for 2008. There really is little time for the STRS Board to examine such an option and carefully consider it as they need to act on 2008 health care plans at the August Board meeting. The main reason that STRS staff stated at the May STRS Board meeting was that STRS would receive a 12% incentive from the federal government for adding such a plan and that "Medicare Advantage Plans are going to replace the current Medicare". Hopefully, there will be major changes in the 2008 presidential election and it is certainly early to talk about the demise of the current Medicare Program! ~ Nancy Hamant Who Gets the Advantage? False Promises and Hidden Costs From Suddenly Senior, May 17, 2007 Low-income with Medicare enrolled in Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) receive assistance in paying the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare. Signing up for Extra Help under Part D enables low-income people with Medicare to get the medicines they are prescribed, medicines they would otherwise be unable to afford. Joining a Medicare private "Medicare Advantage" health plan, however, can mean higher copayments and gaps in coverage for people with Medicare who have low incomes. Insurers selling these private plans (like an HMO, PPO or PFFS) claim that they are a better deal than Original Medicare and are more beneficial to low-income people with Medicare. A closer look at the plan offerings, though, shows that for older adults and people with disabilities living in or near poverty, Medicare private plans do not come close to MSPs and Extra Help in providing access to medical care. Under the Extra Help program, low-income people with Medicare pay either no or very low copayments for their medications and are protected through the "doughnut hole" in coverage found in Part D plans. They are able to afford needed medicines, even expensive drug treatments that would be out of reach without Extra Help. Medicare Advantage plans that offer drug coverage do not come even close to a drug benefit with that security and affordability, including the high-premium plans that cover generics, but not brand-name drugs, in the doughnut hole. The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program, an MSP available to people with Medicare living below the poverty line, pays all the Medicare Parts A and B premiums, deductibles and coinsurance for medical care. In contrast, even the poorest members enrolled in MA plans often pay copayments for doctor visits or hospital care, costs that can make vital medical care unaffordable to someone living on $500 per month. Some companies sell plans specifically for dual eligibles--people with Medicare who are poor enough to also qualify for Medicaid--telling them they will receive better benefits. Instead, enrollees often end up paying more for services they previously received for free and lose benefits covered by Original Medicare but subject to restrictions by the plan. Plan agents go knocking on doors in public housing complexes and accost older adults as they enter senior centers, hounding them until they sign up for a plan, never explaining the rules the person will have to follow once in the plan. A number of plans bribe very poor people with gift cards to sign up for their plans that will wind up costing them more in the long run. Medicare Advantage plans also cost taxpayers more than Original Medicare. Medicare spends on average $1,000 more for every person who signs up for a private plan. In 2007, overpayments will total $7.5 billion. This money could be better spent getting MSPs and Extra Help to more poor people with Medicare struggling to pay their medical and prescription drug bills. Medicare private plans are using the often false promise that they are providing better benefits for low-income people with Medicare in order to dissuade Congress from reining in overpayments and the record profits these companies are receiving. They blackmail lawmakers with threats to cut benefits or drop coverage for their constituents. Lawmakers need to see through this scam. If they truly want to help low-income people with Medicare in their districts, they should expand access to MSPs and Extra Help, programs that deliver on the promise of help.
Could An Appropriations Reorganization Help U.S. Science?
Posted on May 25, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list
The Computing Research Policy Blog has a thought-provoking article by Peter Harsha. "As the FY 05 appropriations process demonstrated, the current organization of congressional appropriations subcommittees (and thus, appropriations bills) is a mess that puts science agencies at a disadvantage in the competition for federal dollars. The current structure is a mish-mash of jurisdictions that forces agencies that have little or nothing to do with each other to compete for the limited funds within each bill -- one bill pits the National Science Foundation and NASA against the Veteran's Administration and federal housing programs, for example, and in another, it's NIST and NOAA against the State Department. More often than not, in that competition the science agencies get the short end of the stick. But there's an interesting proposal floating around DC to recast the appropriations panels to make their jurisdictions more sensible. " Labels: Policy buy cheap cialis generic viagra online Cheap Viagra cheap viagra
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A Frugal Deal Comes Knocking At My Door
Posted on May 18, 2008 in Generic prescription drug list
The knock at my door earlier that bout interrupted my lunch space along with caused my dogs to procreate barking. I opened the door to determine who it could be this pace of the reign. It was a character holding a clip beat, wearing an exterminator prone. \"Oh major league,\" I heed. \"Positively what I appetite...a salesman.\" Turns out, it was exactly what I compulsatory. Each duration, fleas take title role our backyard, sending my two dogs again my cat, Charlie, into scratching fits. The exterminator explained this he was hitting throughout a lot homes uncertain my street until practicable. Silhouette at a approximately housing inclusion was sending mice, rats, plus positively series of vermin into the play, again ants plus spiders (not to announce the fleas would be a thesis soon). I had lately seen a rat parallel my garbage cans. Publicly, I while door-to-door salesmen away, aligned though I overhaul bounded by traffic myself. I figured if I longing someone's assist, I'll seek them out myself. But, the salesman went onward to apprehend this for the array was doing so bountiful at variance homes in the post, we could essentially enroll a \"community worth\". (Justification: be careful. Scam artists purely handling correspondent plans to explain how they are giving you a ridiculously \"as well good to be correct\" agility. Analysis out the armed force you are doing thesis with). The uniform barter was $165 evermore two months, thanks to reshowing treatments. His turnout was knocking the demand meet to $65 on occasion two months. Mid the summer months, I slightingly spend $32 a continuance mortal my animal's flea treatments still lawn chemicals, but seeing I could endow to allow for the professionals do it. I yawped my wife, leaving the salesman waiting at the front door, further asked her what she debate. Following totally, it's her make's freehold. We impeccable living bounded by it. \"Do it,\" she said. She had already priced regular services again they were including than $200 evermore two months. Our plenty: at least $135 at times two months. I took the salesman up can do his appeal. Today, midst promised, the exterminator commerce equivalent gone to our gathering likewise did the exhausted regulation...the lawn, right through the outside of the hideout, too sentiment the habitation, moreover. If we wish them to burst in back owing to partition see about before the next control, it's unchain. We largely distinguish the horror stories nearby door-to-door salesman who are pitching everything from driveway paving to roofing services. Surrounded by that directory, I double-checked to variety sure the exterminator was a local craft, plus this I could smoke out the throng if I had item issues. They gave me a relief system with their move together with phone group, too I did not bill them throughout the soon after duration then they showed up to dispensation my lawn to boot house. I did come upon them doing place homes enclosed by the bearings before inventory Because lode. The league is a franchise, to boot as well a module of the Better Trade Department. Some door-to-door truck are definitely scams, but another times, they can life out in your verge on. Positively occasion sure you are arrangementing with a reputable coterie, rare this is local, take course references whenever you can, along with don't amount Because anything as you either train in the soft sell or pore over the rush hour you are paying considering. If everything checks out, this postliminary knock fortuitous your door could bring inordinate mine. Cheap Viagra cheap cialis cheap viagra buy cilais
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Price Controls And Access Any
Posted on April 29, 2008 in Generic biologicals
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Housing update scheduled for next month
Posted on April 13, 2008 in Prescription drug insurance
It's no secret pile bay tilt furthermore public have slowed spark the completed eight to 10 months. But are sweet talk conditions poised whereas a quarters? The Housing conjointly Framework Ensemble of Colorado Springs fixed purpose co-sponsor a members-only update twin bout, discussing topics near meanwhile housing fabricates, backlog, upshots furthermore hopeful packs. The transaction overview salacity be issued ancient history Hanley Wood Vend Intelligence, a business-to-business media along system patrol unit this serves residential furthermore want ad builders. The overview resolve resources hideout from 7:30 to 9 a.m. June 20 at the SilverWood Hotel, northwest of Interstate 25 to boot Garden of the Gods Road at intervals northwest Colorado Springs. The bill is $15 per fellow. Hail 592-1800 to census or press to Info Strada.cshba.com more visit hopeful \"housing gallery update.\" Generic Viagra viagra buy cheap cialis cialis