Legislators Aim To Close Gap For Medicare Coverage
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing a healthcare reform bill that aims to close the so-called doughnut hole gap in Medicare drug coverage.
In its current state, the coverage gap occurs after $2,700 is spent on Medicare drug coverage. The coverage continues once costs reach $6,154, according to Reuters.
Pelosi said the new bill aims to close that gap by lowering the cost of prescription drugs for as many as 4 million on people on Medicare next year.
“As of January 1, 2010, our legislation will give a 50 percent discount for brand-name drugs to recipients in the doughnut hole, and it will reduce the size of the doughnut hole by $500,” said Pelosi.
The previous bill had aimed to close the gap in January 2011.
Additionally, the new draft of the bill would close the gap in prescription drug coverage within 10 years, as opposed to 15 years in the first bill.
But support for the new bill from elderly patients on Medicare is wavering. Such support is crucial for healthcare reform.
Legislators believe one way to regain elderly support would be to close the doughnut hole gap, which has been noted as a top priority for the AARP.
But Republicans say the proposed cuts would only reduce benefits of Medicare programs.
“Millions and millions of dollars in ads and lobbying are being pumped out to scare and confuse the public about health reform, all designed to stop the legislation,” Reuters quoted House Democratic Whip James Clyburn.
“Their top target: seniors and their beloved Medicare program.”
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