Peter Ashkenaz
Peter Ashkenaz
saying
Pharmacists are saying there are still some bumps, but things are getting better.
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.
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.
taking
If they wait, they're taking a big gamble.
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.
millions people sorts
With millions of people in the program, you are going to see all sorts of different scenarios. This (situation) is unfortunate.
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.
computer fast people plans systems
We're getting people into the right plans and the right computer systems as fast as we can.
essence implement plan review state time truly
Time is truly of the essence to give us time to review the plan and the state time to implement it.
action either letters needed people
We needed to get the letters out now, so people know they will either need to take action come Nov. 15 or not take any action and be automatically enrolled in a plan.
sure
We'd like to make sure it doesn't get to be widespread.
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.