Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit ‘Unlikely’ This Year, Wilensky Says

Even though the prescription drug issue is at "fever pitch" in Congress, it is "unlikely" that legislation will pass this year because of a lack of consensus on how a Medicare drug benefit would be funded and structured, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission Chair and former HCFA director Gail Wilensky said yesterday, CongressDaily/A.M. reports. Even though various committees with health jurisdictions are holding hearings in preparation for a number of proposals, including one from Sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and John Breaux (D-La.), Wilensky said that "too many suggestions may make it more difficult" to pass prescription coverage legislation. Speaking at a briefing for the National Center for Policy Analysis, Wilensky said that the differences between those who want to overhaul Medicare and those who want to add a drug benefit "may be too great to bridge this year," adding, "There is no clearly defined point as a consensus." However, she said Congress could act on a "smaller scale" bill by May or June, including President Bush's Immediate Helping Hand proposal. Wilensky said patients' rights legislation is "higher on the possibility list," as compromise may be found on punitive damages for managed care plans, the scope of patients' protections and whether state or federal courts would hear cases against managed care plans. Wilensky also noted that "a good case could be made" to separate Medicaid from HCFA oversight, as Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) has suggested. She added that she "remain[ed] hopeful" that a health insurance tax credit will be enacted this year (Fulton, CongressDaily/A.M., 3/27).