Monday, July 22, 2013
And My Other Guy on the Hill Said . . .
And Rob Portman's response to the same letter from me was:
Dear Sharon,
Thank you for contacting me to express your views on S.740, the Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2013. I am grateful to hear from a fellow Ohioan, and I appreciate the opportunity to address your thoughtful comments.
Prior to the establishment of the Medicare Part D program in 2006, Medicare beneficiaries who were also eligible for Medicaid ("dual eligible") received drug coverage through Medicaid. When Part D was established, these individuals were automatically enrolled in its low-income subsidy (LIS) program, which covers the cost of premiums under Part D. Many LIS beneficiaries are dual eligible beneficiaries and account for 40 percent of Part D enrollees. Currently, rebates on drug costs for LIS beneficiaries are negotiated between Part D plans and drug makers, as they are for regular Part D enrollees.
As you may know, there have been proposals to apply Medicaid-style rebates to LIS beneficiaries. Drug manufacturers are currently required to pay a rebate on their sales to Medicaid enrollees. In 2010, that rate was increased from 15.1 percent to 23.1 percent of the average manufacturer price. As your letter notes, S.740, the Medicare Drug Savings Act of 2013 would also require manufacturers to pay rebates for LIS individuals.
I believe any proposal that makes significant changes to Medicare must be rigorously examined, and its effects on the federal budget, access to care, and out-of-pocket costs for America's seniors, must be carefully measured. I will keep your views in mind as the Senate considers ways to address the nation's fiscal challenges.
Thanks again for taking the time to contact my office. I am honored to represent you and the great state of Ohio in the United States Senate. For more information, visit my website at www.portman.senate.gov. Please keep in touch.
Sincerely,
Rob Portman
U.S. Senator
Just giving old Rob props for responding but he mostly spoke bureaucratic b.s.
He is not not really my guy on the Hill!!!
Happy Blogging!!!!!
Kay
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That's pretty condescending. I'm sure you were well aware of all the facts of the case, so he did not have to go into detail about them. He is not pinning himself down to any commitment to seniors. So his response means nothing much.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
ReplyDeleteThis is the same Senator who changed his position on gay marriage when his son came out.
Has Portman even read the bill? Which drug companies donated to his campaign?
ReplyDeleteAnd didn't he call you Sharon?
ReplyDeleteNot knowing what else to say about "your guy", I'll just say, "Hi, Kay!"
ReplyDeleteCop Car
P.S. I don't mind someone's telling me something that I already know - unless there is reason that they should know that I know. Your letter may have let "your guy" know that you knew, but I don't recall having read it.
I'm jealous....being a DC resident (taxation without representation), I don't have a "guy" or a "gal" on the Hill. Eleanor Holmes Norton is fabulous, but she can't vote.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting a response from these critters!!