Post by unlawflcombatnt on Sept 29, 2007 17:22:10 GMT -6
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
For Immediate Release: Monday, August 13, 2007
Contact: CMS Office of Public Affairs
202-690-6145
"The vast majority of all Medicare beneficiaries, including over 10 million low-income beneficiaries, are receiving comprehensive prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D, employer-sponsored retiree health plans or other creditable coverage such as the VA, TRICARE, or FEHBP (January 2007 press release).
The new drug benefit created an enormous challenge and a great opportunity. The promise is being fulfilled with approximately 100 million Part D prescriptions being filled every month....
In addition to beneficiary participation and satisfaction, the program has also excelled in beneficiary savings and is operating at a significantly lower cost to taxpayers than originally estimated...."
Lower than originally estimated?? Really?
"
Moreover, CMS actuaries estimated this past January that payments to Part D plans are projected to be $113 billion lower over the next ten years than estimated the previous year, a reduction of 10 percent."
Alright. Though CMS deliberately avoids revealing the total cost, it can be calculated from those 2 numbers.
$113 billion lower over the next 10 years = 10% reduction (from earlier estimate)
$113 billion divided by 10% (or 0.10) = $1,130 billion (or $1.13 Trillion)
$1,130 billion - $113 billion = $1,017 billion (or $1.017 Trillion)
$1.017 trillion is the current projected cost over 10 years.
$1,017 billion divided by 10 years = $101.7 billion per year.
The Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or Medicare Part D, costs taxpayers $101.7 billion/year, or $504 billion over 5 years.
The initial dishonest guesstimate was for somewhere around $350 billion over 10 years. Then that lie was revised to $500 billion over 10 years. Now, according government statistics, the cost is almost 3 times the initial estimate.
Those responsible for the dishonest original $350 billion estimate should be prosecuted for fraud. They defrauded taxpayers of over $650 billion. Meanwhile, that $650 billion is going into the pockets of the American Pharmaceutical Cartel.
The government enthusiastically prosecutes an M.D for even a micro-fraction of that amount, while ignoring fraud on amounts hundreds of times larger by Corporate America, government bureaucrats, and elected representatives.
The CMS publication revealing this information is so full of spin it nearly turned my computer over on its side. CMS glowingly touts the cost reduction from the previous estimate--but without revealing what that cost was previously, and without revealing what the current cost is now. Nor do they reveal how much smaller original estimates were than the current estimate. However, they did leave themselves an out-- an excuse for not actually stating the current 10-year estimate. They did so by stating it was a "10% reduction over the previous estimate." This provides cover against claims that they tried to "hide" the current cost, despite not putting in writing.
They know very well the reaction readers would have upon seeing the actual cost in print. Many would hit the ceiling if they'd seen the $1 trillion+ price tag for 10 years. It's more optimistic to mention only the "savings" and cost "reductions", rather than openly revealing the total 10-year cost of over $1 trillion.
The current total cost is much greater than the original underestimates. And the cost is worth emphasizing & re-emphasizing.
$1 trillion = the additional cost to taxpayers of the Medicare Prescription Drug/Pharmaceutical Industry Welfare Bill over 10 years.
$1 trillion = the additional Corporate Welfare being doled out by the Bush administration to its Corporate cronies over the next 10 years.
"Low-Income Subsidy Beneficiary Outreach
Over 10 million low-income beneficiaries are getting comprehensive drug coverage for little or no cost, including almost 9.5 million who are enrolled in Medicare Part D.
CMS continues to make additional efforts to encourage enrollment among the hard-to-reach population eligible for the low-income subsidy, which in 2008 is estimated to be worth $3,660 ...."
By deduction, the annual cost of the Medicare Drug Bill is at least $3,660 per enrollee. (and probably more).
At the same time, the annual cost for Medicare-Part B is $4,363 per enrollee. (Part B covers office visits and outpatient care, while Part A covers inpatient Hospital care.)
According to CMS, 3/4 of Medicare B's 40 million enrollees pay at least the standard premium of $1,116/year. For calculation purposes, if this amount is spread out over the other 1/4, it becomes an average of $837/year per enrollee. Subtracting $837 from $4,363 leaves $3,526/year--the amount that government and taxpayers pay per enrollee.
In contrast, premiums for the Medicare Drug Bill are only $22 in 2007.
Calculating the cost to taxpayers, the minimum cost of $3,660 - $22 = $3,638 per enrollee.
$3,638 = annual cost of Medicare Drug Bill paid by taxpayers for each enrollee.
$3,526 = annual cost of Medicare Part B paid by taxpayers for each enrollee.
Per enrollee, the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill costs $112 more per year than Part B (outpatient medical care.)
Medicare Part D is now paying Pharmaceutical companies more (per enrollee) than it pays for ALL outpatient medical care.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
For Immediate Release: Monday, August 13, 2007
Contact: CMS Office of Public Affairs
202-690-6145
"The vast majority of all Medicare beneficiaries, including over 10 million low-income beneficiaries, are receiving comprehensive prescription drug coverage through Medicare Part D, employer-sponsored retiree health plans or other creditable coverage such as the VA, TRICARE, or FEHBP (January 2007 press release).
The new drug benefit created an enormous challenge and a great opportunity. The promise is being fulfilled with approximately 100 million Part D prescriptions being filled every month....
In addition to beneficiary participation and satisfaction, the program has also excelled in beneficiary savings and is operating at a significantly lower cost to taxpayers than originally estimated...."
Lower than originally estimated?? Really?
"
Moreover, CMS actuaries estimated this past January that payments to Part D plans are projected to be $113 billion lower over the next ten years than estimated the previous year, a reduction of 10 percent."
Alright. Though CMS deliberately avoids revealing the total cost, it can be calculated from those 2 numbers.
$113 billion lower over the next 10 years = 10% reduction (from earlier estimate)
$113 billion divided by 10% (or 0.10) = $1,130 billion (or $1.13 Trillion)
$1,130 billion - $113 billion = $1,017 billion (or $1.017 Trillion)
$1.017 trillion is the current projected cost over 10 years.
$1,017 billion divided by 10 years = $101.7 billion per year.
The Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or Medicare Part D, costs taxpayers $101.7 billion/year, or $504 billion over 5 years.
The initial dishonest guesstimate was for somewhere around $350 billion over 10 years. Then that lie was revised to $500 billion over 10 years. Now, according government statistics, the cost is almost 3 times the initial estimate.
Those responsible for the dishonest original $350 billion estimate should be prosecuted for fraud. They defrauded taxpayers of over $650 billion. Meanwhile, that $650 billion is going into the pockets of the American Pharmaceutical Cartel.
The government enthusiastically prosecutes an M.D for even a micro-fraction of that amount, while ignoring fraud on amounts hundreds of times larger by Corporate America, government bureaucrats, and elected representatives.
The CMS publication revealing this information is so full of spin it nearly turned my computer over on its side. CMS glowingly touts the cost reduction from the previous estimate--but without revealing what that cost was previously, and without revealing what the current cost is now. Nor do they reveal how much smaller original estimates were than the current estimate. However, they did leave themselves an out-- an excuse for not actually stating the current 10-year estimate. They did so by stating it was a "10% reduction over the previous estimate." This provides cover against claims that they tried to "hide" the current cost, despite not putting in writing.
They know very well the reaction readers would have upon seeing the actual cost in print. Many would hit the ceiling if they'd seen the $1 trillion+ price tag for 10 years. It's more optimistic to mention only the "savings" and cost "reductions", rather than openly revealing the total 10-year cost of over $1 trillion.
The current total cost is much greater than the original underestimates. And the cost is worth emphasizing & re-emphasizing.
$1 trillion = the additional cost to taxpayers of the Medicare Prescription Drug/Pharmaceutical Industry Welfare Bill over 10 years.
$1 trillion = the additional Corporate Welfare being doled out by the Bush administration to its Corporate cronies over the next 10 years.
"Low-Income Subsidy Beneficiary Outreach
Over 10 million low-income beneficiaries are getting comprehensive drug coverage for little or no cost, including almost 9.5 million who are enrolled in Medicare Part D.
CMS continues to make additional efforts to encourage enrollment among the hard-to-reach population eligible for the low-income subsidy, which in 2008 is estimated to be worth $3,660 ...."
By deduction, the annual cost of the Medicare Drug Bill is at least $3,660 per enrollee. (and probably more).
At the same time, the annual cost for Medicare-Part B is $4,363 per enrollee. (Part B covers office visits and outpatient care, while Part A covers inpatient Hospital care.)
According to CMS, 3/4 of Medicare B's 40 million enrollees pay at least the standard premium of $1,116/year. For calculation purposes, if this amount is spread out over the other 1/4, it becomes an average of $837/year per enrollee. Subtracting $837 from $4,363 leaves $3,526/year--the amount that government and taxpayers pay per enrollee.
In contrast, premiums for the Medicare Drug Bill are only $22 in 2007.
Calculating the cost to taxpayers, the minimum cost of $3,660 - $22 = $3,638 per enrollee.
$3,638 = annual cost of Medicare Drug Bill paid by taxpayers for each enrollee.
$3,526 = annual cost of Medicare Part B paid by taxpayers for each enrollee.
Per enrollee, the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill costs $112 more per year than Part B (outpatient medical care.)
Medicare Part D is now paying Pharmaceutical companies more (per enrollee) than it pays for ALL outpatient medical care.