More join US Medicare drug plan

Last Updated: 2006-01-17 16:00:45 -0400 (Reuters Health)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Voluntary enrollment for the new Medicare drug benefit is growing faster than expected, U.S. health officials said on Tuesday even as about 20 states reported problems with patients receiving their medication.

More than 3.6 million of Medicare's elderly and disabled have signed up for stand-alone plans, compared with just 1 million as of mid-December, officials said.

Tuesday's announcement raises enrollment to almost 24 million for the new program, which allows insurers, pharmacies and other companies to offer various drug coverage plans with oversight.

Most of those enrolled already received drug coverage under other government or private plans, but were automatically switched to the new program. Any of Medicare's 42 million beneficiaries can sign up.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said the figures surpassed the agency's expectation for the program, which is "well on track" to have 28 million to 30 million enrollees by the end of the year.

At the same time, the advocacy group Medicare Rights Center said about 20 states have stepped in to pay for medications for patients who had trouble using the new benefit since it began January 1.

Some states have declared public health emergencies to allow use of state funds, saying Medicare's errors left many patients without life-saving drugs.

In most cases, those who were automatically enrolled from Medicaid, the joint federal-state program for low-income Americans, or who switched plans at the last minute were told they were not signed up or enrolled under a certain plan.

Leavitt and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mark McClellan defended agency efforts to help patients resolve disputes as well as assist states in seeking reimbursement from the insurance plans.

"When millions are enrolled all at the same time, there are bound to be some transition problems," Leavitt said.

Medicare officials over the weekend told participating companies to pay for 30-day supplies of any drug a beneficiary was already taking, McClellan told reporters.

Health insurers, including UnitedHealth Group Inc., WellPoint Inc and Humana Inc, as well as pharmacies such as CVS Corp and Walgreen Co are among those either offering or marketing drug plans.

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