This is the Medicare drug benefit the Republicans passed because Medicare beneficiaries were having the choose between medications and food. Gee. Now they don't have to decide for themselves. The government will decide that they get medication and less food. No more being forced to make the hard decisions themselves.
New York Times Sunday, May 8, 2005.
"When Medicare begins covering drugs in January, older Americans will spend less of their own money on drugs and will therefore have more to spend on food, reducing their need for food stamps, officials said.
"The new reading of the Medicare law, set forth in a document sent to Congressional offices this week, comes just as federal officials begin a nationwide campaign to persuade low-income people to apply for the drug benefit.
"The document, addressed to elderly and disabled people who receive food stamps, says, "You may qualify for extra help paying for your Medicare prescription drug costs." But it adds, "If you qualify for extra help, your food stamp benefits may decline."
"Dr. Mark B. McClellan, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, defended the policy. "Medicare beneficiaries will get comprehensive help with their drug costs and will have significantly more resources for all their other basic necessities, including food," he said. The savings on prescription drugs will more than offset any loss of food stamps, so "low-income seniors will be better off," he said."
Look carefully. Low income people already had to get food stamps because their income was so low. So with one hand the administration gives a little help with medication, and with the other they cut the food stamps the people needed.
Well, I guess the poor elderly and disabled will be healthy on their medications as they eat their dog food.
No comments:
Post a Comment