Consumers Sue Over Alleged Medicare Computer Flaw (seniors w/out drugs?)

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Consumers Sue Over Alleged Medicare Computer Flaw
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON -- Computer glitches involving the new Medicare drug benefit could leave thousands of frail, impoverished seniors without prescription coverage on Jan. 1, a coalition of consumer groups alleged in a lawsuit against the government filed today.

"Because many of these persons need prescription medications to function or survive, the consequences of no longer receiving prescription drug coverage will be calamitous," warned the 19-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by the Medicare Rights Center and seven other organizations.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which administers the program, had no immediate response. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has said the government will spare no effort to ensure continuous coverage without breaks.

The transfer of these beneficiaries to new coverage is one of the most delicate transitions under the complex prescription drug benefit, the centerpiece of President Bush's Medicare overhaul.

The consumer groups want to force the government to develop stronger safeguards for 6.4 million elderly and disabled beneficiaries who now get prescriptions through Medicaid and medical services through Medicare. Called "dual eligibles" by the government, they are poor and many are suffering from severe physical and mental disabilities....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-111405medicare_lat,0,3470255.story?coll=la-tot-promo&track=morenews

[aquart]

1. Bill written by real geniuses.

Or a pack of wolves.

[salin]

2. pack of wolves, no doubt