Republicans and Democrats Should Compromise on Medicare Drug Benefit, Not Use Issue for Campaigns, Kondracke Says

Republicans and Democrats in Congress should "iron out differences" in their Medicare prescription drug benefit proposals and pass legislation this year, but the "two parties seem more inclined to exploit the issue politically than to solve it," syndicated columnist Morton Kondracke writes in a Washington Times opinion piece (Kondracke, Washington Times, 5/8). House Republicans have proposed a 10-year, $350 billion prescription drug benefit bill that would require Medicare beneficiaries with annual incomes more than 135% of the federal poverty level to pay a $250 annual deductible and a $35 to $40 monthly premium. Under the proposal, Medicare beneficiaries would receive coverage for 70% to 80% of the first $1,000 of their annual prescription drug costs and coverage for 50% of their annual costs between $1,000 and $2,250. Seniors would have to cover 100% of their annual prescription drug costs between $2,250 and $5,000, but the legislation would cover 100% of annual costs of more than $5,000. Senate Democrats have proposed a rival five-year, $425 billion bill that would require Medicare beneficiaries to pay a $25 monthly premium with no annual deductible. Under the legislation, seniors would receive coverage for 50% of their annual prescription drug costs less than $4,000 and coverage for 100% of annual costs more than $4,000 (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/6). Kondracke writes that Republicans and Democrats "seem intent on making political points" to win votes in the November election, adding that "it's hard to see the two sides resolving their differences." He concludes, "Politicians should be judged on how hard they try to produce a drug plan for seniors this year -- not on how hard they work to create an election issue" (Washington Times, 5/8).