Democrats Hear Angry Seniors on Medicare (only Dems attended hearing)

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/medicare_drugs&printer=1;_ylt=As4LNB8vFpt5qz8DaQ6DlRB2wPIE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-
Democrats Hear Angry Seniors on Medicare

By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 6 minutes ago

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said Friday that "SWAT teams of technicians" were working to improve the new Medicare drug benefit.

Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, senior citizens and pharmacists complained to Democratic lawmakers of being put on hold endlessly as they tried to get prescriptions filled.

"Unfortunately, the start of the new prescription drug benefit would be described by many patients and pharmacists as a nightmare," said Tim Tucker, a pharmacist from Huntington, Tenn., who is a member of the American Pharmacists Association Board of Trustees.

Tucker spoke at a hearing organized by Rep. Henry Waxman (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif. Only Democratic lawmakers attended. Tucker said he saw some good things occurring at his pharmacy since the government began subsidizing the cost of prescription drugs.

[rodeodance]

1. on pt..said she felt like "trapped in the incompetency of..Katrina"

"It continues to get better every day," Leavitt said.

But Ruth Grunberg from Cortland, N.Y., told Democrats that her pharmacist's computer rejected her card on Jan. 1, as if she didn't even exist, and she spent days trying to rectify the problem.

"I was starting to feel like the people trapped in the incompetency of the response to Katrina," Grunberg said.

[snippy]

2. Republicans seem to have built another bridge to nowhere

with their prescription drug plan.

[AuntiBush]

12. $$$$$$$$$$$

It's all about making more $$$$$.

Frist's family owns a huge pharma-company, right. And so does (?) what company is it in cahoots with *?

My God, how many billions do they need to fulfill their dreamy profit-grabs? Robbing us blind, blatantly.

[central scrutinizer]

3. SWAT teams of technicians??

What the fuck does that mean? I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

[AuntiBush]

11. Really.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

:wtf:

[onehandle]

4. My Mom has been going through this Hell for months.

We've both talked to Medicare and the %$^#$% insurance company.

Still no card or coverage. And we followed the instructions in great detail.

This "plan" is designed to confuse seniors. My 75 year old Mom wouldn't even be this far without me.

Pricks.

[CountAllVotes]

6. I think the "plan" is

to confuse EVERYONE, not just senior citizens. Remember, some disabled people are on Medicare as well. Pffftttttttttttttttttt ............ :argh:

Can't win!

:kick:

[PA Democrat]

5. All you have to do is walk into any pharmacy to hear angry seniors

and their family members. I posted earlier this week about a woman announcing that the mess was "all George Bush's fault."

[CountAllVotes]

7. of course it is all *'s fault!

But they'll pass the responsibility off on someone/something else. It is a disgrace, an absolute ir reprehensible disgrace what they have done to those that must rely on Medicare or Medicaid for their RX's, and no they are not and were not ever "free". Nothing ever was "free". This RX program just makes a hornet's nest out of a plan that was going nowhere from Day #1.

Tip: Buy your drugs at Costco - cheapest prices I've seen.

:kick:

[CountAllVotes]

8. recommend btw!!

<eom>

:kick:

[AlCzervik]

9. ok who doesn't LOVE Henry Waxman? the most under-appreciated imo

man in congress.

[TygrBright]

10. They REALLY thought seniors are dumb enough to buy this crapola?

Even when they promise "There's a plan JUST RIGHT for you, we can find a way for you to get the lowest cost for all of YOUR prescriptions-- substantial savings, blah-blah..."

EVERY senior I know is saying, "Yeah, fine, you'll fit me out with a plan that makes the medications I'm on NOW a little cheaper, but SCREWS ME IN THE ASS when I get new prescriptions next month or next year, right?"

They aren't buying it, nosireesir...

dismissively,
Bright

[Lars39]

13. Huntington TN is solid blue and pretty progressive, too, fwiw.

[Tempest]

14. The GOP is going to get bit in the ass just before the election

Come this fall, most seniors will hit their coverage limit and will have to pay out of pocket until the Schedule D payments kick in. For most seniors, this will mean thousands of dollars they will have to pay out.

And it won't be the Democrats who bear the brunt of the outrage.

[NVMojo]

15. Face it, we are all just disposable pieces of crap Bushco ...with wallets.

[cap]

16. it's not just senior who are concerned...

the Republicans forget that "seniors" have children who care about them.

[Hekate]

17. Cowardly Repubs wouldn't show their faces, eh? nt

[Tight_rope]

18. Are these the same seniors that vote for Bush to protect them...