 
News of the Day ... in Perspective12/08/2003Medicare will not cover non-formulary drugs. If Medicare establishes a formulary for prescription drugs to be covered under the new bill signed by President Bush on December 8, drugs not listed on the formulary would not be covered. Moreover, out-of-pocket spending for such drugs would NOT count toward the deductible, explains Robert Pear in the December 7 issue of The New York Times. The bill also forbids “gap” insurance to cover either deductibles or non-formulary drugs. This provision is intended to prevent the evasion of the cost-containing effects of having the consumer pay at least a portion of the costs directly. Add pharmaceutical companies who make drugs not chosen for the formulary to the list of losers created by this bill, along with those who benefit from their products. Additional information: Medicare Drug Bill Is a Bad Deal for Senior Citizens, jones.house.gov/html/1121032.html Medicare costs over a Trillion dollars What do you think about the Medicare drug bill? aaps.forums.commentary.net
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