Hatch, Wyden welcome decision to roll back changes to Medicare Prescription Drug Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Monday, Senate Finance Committee ranking member Orrin Hatch and Chairman Ron Wyden welcomed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner’s decision to roll back its plans to overhaul the Medicare prescription drug program.

“After Republicans and Democrats raised significant concerns, the Obama Administration did the right thing by undoing the majority of what it proposed to the highly successful Medicare Part D program,” Hatch said. “The next step is revisiting the severe cuts to the Medicare Advantage program, which undermine quality health care delivered through the private market to millions on seniors on Medicare. I hope the Administration continues to walk away from policies it has previously supported that undercut successful programs that help seniors lead healthier lives.”

“This is good news and shows that the administration shares our concerns about potential disruptions for seniors enrolled in the Medicare prescription drug program,” Wyden said. “By safeguarding beneficiary protections and choice, the guarantee that seniors’ drug coverage is accessible, comprehensive and affordable remains in place. I am also pleased by the acknowledgement of the need to re-engage with seniors, insurers and other stakeholders before any policy changes.”

Background

In January, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued a 700-page proposed regulation that would significantly alter the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, which currently has a nearly 90 percent approval rating among beneficiaries.

Concerned with the adverse impact the proposed regulations would have on seniors enrolled in the successful prescription drug program, 20 Senate Finance Committee members, led by Wyden and Hatch, wrote to Tavenner last month to urge the agency to reconsider proposed regulations to the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

Monday, the Medicare and Medicaid service centers announced it would shelve some of the plans to overhaul the Part D program, including its proposed changes to protected classes, pharmacy networks, plan limitations and noninterference language. The centers will continue to move forward with its efforts to prevent fraud and abuse among drug prescribers and strengthen beneficiary protections.

Submitted by the Office of Sen. Orrin Hatch

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2 Comments

  • Give me a break March 11, 2014 at 10:49 am

    Hatch should change his name to Bitch&Complain because that’s all he does

  • cranky March 13, 2014 at 7:50 am

    worse congressman ever

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