Audio Minnesotans give Medicare bill mixed reviews (story audio) Discussion of Medicare reform bill (Midday, 11/20/03) Speech by HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson on Medicare reform (11/20/03) Photos Senior living 'A lost opportunity' More from MPR Pawlenty drug plan gets warm reception from U.S. senators (11/20/2003) Resources Minnesota Senior Federation AARP HHS: Background on Medicare proposal HHS: Current Medicare program Your Voice News Forum: "Many, many people with Medicare are left worse off, and the only clear winners are the pharmaceutical industry and the insurance industry."

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Minnesotans give Medicare bill mixed reviews
by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio
November 24, 2003

Residents of Riverview Highland Senior Apartments in St. Paul. (MPR Photo/Tom Scheck)

The prescription drug benefit in the Medicare bill under debate in the U.S. Senate is getting a mixed reaction from Minnesota seniors. Supporters say the bill would finally provide a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries, something that's been missing from the program since it was started in 1965. Opponents of the $400 billion bill say it benefits drug and insurance companies, but does little to lower the overall cost of drugs.

St. Paul, Minn. — The two best known senior organizations in Minnesota come down on different sides on the Medicare bill. The Minnesota Senior Federation has sponsored drug-buying bus trips to Canada for its members for the last eight years. The federation has also lobbied Minnesota's congressional delegation to include a provision in the Medicare bill that would allow for the reimportation of Canadian drugs.

The fact that the reimportation provision is not in the final bill is one reason why the Senior Federation calls the overall bill a lost opportunity. Senior Federation President Barbara Kaufman says the bill is a giveaway to the pharmaceutical industry.

	'A lost opportunity'

"What the bill has done is provide a pretend benefit. Very few seniors will actually benefit from what they have proposed," says Kaufman. "The drug companies will benefit a lot, because they get to sell the drugs at whatever price they please."

While the Senior Federation opposes the bill, the senior advocacy organization, AARP of Minnesota, says it supports the bill -- albeit reluctantly. Michelle Kimball, the Minnesota director of AARP, says her organization supports the passage of the bill because it's a good first step.

Kimball says she agrees there are drawbacks to the bill and some of her members have been upset with AARP's decision to support it. Kimball says, however, that it's a vocal minority. She says 150 people out of her organization's 640,000 members voiced their displeasure with AARP's decision to support the bill.

"Right off the top, it's providing immediate relief to very low-income seniors, and those with high out-of-pocket catastrophic costs," says Kimball. "It will help millions of people, and that's a good thing."

Seniors who live at the Riverview Highland Senior Apartments in St. Paul have mixed feelings as well.

It's providing immediate relief to very low-income seniors, and those with high out-of-pocket catastrophic costs. It will help millions of people, and that's a good thing. - Michelle Kimball, director of AARP of Minnesota

A group of seven residents, six women and one man, agreed to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the Medicare legislation. Five say they're against the bill, one is in support of it, and one says she isn't sure how she feels about it.

John Morson, 87, agrees with AARP. He says he's not entirely pleased with the bill, but says it's a good move toward getting prescription drug coverage to seniors who currently don't have any drug coverage at all.

"Today and for some time to come, it is the only bill," says Morson. "If this doesn't go through there will be some time to come before the political forces can be realigned and get some kind of coverage."

Morson says he has drug coverage through his former employer. He says he believes there are enough incentives in the bill to ensure that businesses continue to provide retiree health benefits to seniors. Others said they're worried that businesses might drop retiree health benefits as a cost-saving measure.

Joan Gallery, 70, and Florence O'Grady, who's in her 80s, say they don't think the drug benefit should be provided through a private HMO or insurer. They say the government shouldn't give any more money to drug companies or HMOs.

"To give more money to the drug companies, via the HMOs, we are adding to administrative costs, and already the drug companies are wooing doctors. Now they can start wooing administrators. And where does the consumer end up here?" says Gallery.

"I still worry about the fact that they are privatizing it, just like they talk about privatizing Social Security," adds O'Grady. "I just think it's a bad thing."

Several seniors say they're worried that the cost of doctor visits and other portions of Medicare could go up. Others expressed disappointment that Congress is trying to quickly pass the complex bill. All of the seniors at the Riverview Highland complex say they'll be watching the debate closely in the upcoming days.

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