Peter Ashkenaz
Peter Ashkenaz
information people personal
You should never give out any personal information to people you don't know.
keeps learned lessons plans
It's real important to look at the lessons we learned to see what we can use to make it better. ... It comes down to what makes sense for the beneficiary and also keeps the plans viable.
companies law medicare people programs providing sorts
There is nothing in the Medicare law that prohibits drug companies from providing these sorts of programs to people with Medicare.
begin congress created handle january program remember
You have to remember that Congress created the Part D program to begin January 1, 2006. So we put all the contingencies in place to handle as much as we did.
access change coverage programs qualify rules understand
The rules are established by the companies. As we understand it, the requirements for these programs are that you can't have access to prescription drug coverage and still qualify for the program. They can change that. It's up to them; it's not up to us.
cover medically plan prescribed
As long as the drug that is being prescribed is medically necessary, the plan will cover this drug.
taking
If they wait, they're taking a big gamble.
saying
Pharmacists are saying there are still some bumps, but things are getting better.
computer fast people plans systems
We're getting people into the right plans and the right computer systems as fast as we can.
action covered information medicare people received themselves
The people who don't take any action at all could actually find themselves just covered by Medicare or Medicaid ... so it's real important that they look at the information they received in the mail.
sure
We'd like to make sure it doesn't get to be widespread.
plans short sure time
We have a short time to be working with the plans to make sure the beneficiaries get the information. Some plans are already doing it.
billions decided despite dollars eventually few join requests save states
States are eventually going to save billions of dollars under the new program. And that's why very few states decided to join this lawsuit, despite requests for them to do so.
problems
From everything we've seen, those problems are in the past.