13 January 2006
Sebelius: “We will ensure Kansans receive their medicines”
Kansas to step in and fill Medicare drug plan gap
Many Kansans are encountering problems using the new Medicare prescription drug benefit, and some have been unable to get the medicines they depend on.
To ensure they receive the medicines they need, Governor Kathleen Sebelius today announced the state will cover the cost of prescription drugs for Kansans who have been shifted from Medicaid to Medicare and who are encountering problems receiving their medicines.
“It’s appalling to hear that any Kansas senior or disabled person is being forced to go without the prescription drugs they depend on,” said Sebelius. “Hopefully the problems within Medicare will be worked out soon, but until then we will ensure Kansans receive their medicines.”
A temporary fix that will go into effect later today, this safety net will ensure seniors and those with disabilities won’t go without the prescription drugs they need while the federal government fixes discrepancies with enrollees’ records.
Starting today, Sebelius said, if a pharmacist is having trouble enrolling someone who is considered “dual-eligible” for Medicare and Medicaid, or if there are problems with their claims, the State of Kansas will cover the cost of the prescription drugs directly. Kansas will seek appropriate compensation from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services or the health plans that failed to properly enroll the individual.
“We’re stepping up to make sure Kansans aren’t left behind because of problems at the federal level,” Sebelius said.
Medicare has so far struggled implementing the new drug benefit. Record discrepancies and missing records have caused problems, and many pharmacists and patients have encountered long hold times when calling the Medicare hotline.
Many pharmacists received no record of patients’ plan enrollment. Other Kansans were being charged prices they simply couldn’t afford because Medicare’s problems prevented pharmacists from accessing information on their eligibility for low-income subsidies.
As a result, many dual eligible seniors and those with disabilities have been unable to receive the medicines they need at the prices they were promised.
Sebelius commended pharmacists for going out of their way to serve their customers, praising them for spending countless hours trying to help those who have been hurt by problems with the federal system.
To provide help to Kansans confused by their Medicare drug plan options, Sebelius earlier this month committed $500,000 to provide more counselors and phone lines for Kansans needing help enrolling in a plan. Kansans can call Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas at (800) 860-5260 to receive assistance.
