PBS' 'NOW' To Discuss Implementation of 2003 Medicare Law

[Guest guest]

PBS' 'NOW' To Discuss Implementation of 2003 Medicare Law

10 Jul 2005 Medical News Today

PBS' " NOW " on Friday is scheduled to include an update on

implementation of the 2003 Medicare law. The program is expected to

discuss the current administration's estimate that the total cost of

the new prescription drug benefit will be $724 billion over the next

10 years; exclusion of coverage for a category of drugs called

benzodiazepines, which are used to treat anxiety, insomnia and

seizures; and the so-called clawback provision, which requires states

to pay the federal government 90% of the estimated amount they would

have paid in drug expenses in 2006, when drug coverage for dual

eligibles will be transferred from state Medicaid programs to

Medicare.

In addition, the program's Web site includes a question and answer

session with Tricia Neuman, a Kaiser Family Foundation vice president

and director of its Medicare Policy Project, about the 2003 Medicare

law; a Medicare resource map; and information about the new

prescription drug benefit ( " NOW, " PBS, 7/8). The complete transcript

and video of the program in RealPlayer will be available online after

the broadcast.

Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org.