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CONTACT: David Wallace, Director of Development & Communications
PHONE: 527-8009
E-MAIL: dawalla@lashaw.org
January 5, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Confusion Over New Medicare Prescription Plan Leads to Seniors Being Denied Medication
The new Medicare, Part D prescription drug benefit law is so complex that many pharmacists are unable to figure it out—let alone the senior citizens given a scant 1½ months to choose a plan and enroll in coverage before it started this week (1/1/06). The resulting confusion has led to untold numbers of seniors being turned away from pharmacies without their medication.
Legal Aid Society of Hawai’i is receiving numerous calls daily from individuals having difficulty getting their prescriptions filled—including some that are simply not even trying to fill their prescriptions because they are worried about costs (all Medicare enrolled individuals previously getting Medicaid drug coverage now must use Medicare).
“This is a very frightening and confusing time for this population—our state’s most vulnerable: the sick, the elderly and the poor,” notes Kat Gabriesheski, a Public Benefits Attorney for Legal Aid. “Many of these folks can’t read or understand the letters they are receiving from plans, from Medicare, from the state. They are getting lost in the bureaucracy and living in absolute fear of not being able to get the drugs they need to survive.”
Perplexed and worried seniors have reported being unable to sleep out of anxiety and dread over being charged full price if they try to get their prescriptions. Many individuals are taking an average of 15-20 medications, with out-of-pocket costs that would be well over their entire monthly incomes.
“We want to reassure individuals who are on both Medicaid and Medicare that they should not be leaving the pharmacy without their drugs,” continued Ms. Gabriesheski. “There are safety mechanisms in place to allow pharmacies to charge Medicaid during this transition period. Pharmacists should call Med-Quest Customer service at 524-3370 before turning away anyone who has both Medicaid and Medicare.”
Among the problems: a 58-year-old disabled part-Hawaiian woman living in Honolulu went to the pharmacy yesterday without knowing which plan she had been auto-enrolled into and wasn’t able to get medication; she is on both Medicaid and Medicare. A 72-year-old Filipino veteran with some English skills wasn’t able to sign up until Dec.30th because when he tried to call the plan initially, the person at their toll-free number gave him incorrect information. When he went to the pharmacy on 1/05/06, the pharmacy wasn’t able to confirm his enrollment and sent him away without his medications. Both of these individuals are willing to speak with a reporter.
The Legal Aid Society of Hawai’i is the state’s largest public-interest legal service provider, dedicated to helping Hawai’i’s low-income population with their critical civil, legal needs.
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