Last minute efforts to extend Part D deadline?

With the deadline for registration in Medicare Part D plans tonight at midnight, expect last minute efforts in Washington to extend the sign-up period. Over the weekend, several key Republicans said they would be willing to consider joining the Democrat-led effort to move the deadline back. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) said he might support such legislation but added that he wants to wait until he sees final enrollment numbers before making any decisions. Experts continue to disagree over those numbers, with the administration arguing that 90 percent of those eligible have signed up for the benefit and critics like the Medicare Rights Center arguing that the true numbers are much lower.

- see this article from The New York Times

PLUS: "Extending the deadline would be an implicit admission that [the] administration botched the program's startup. And Mr. Bush never, ever admits mistakes," writes Paul Krugman. Article (NYT sub. req.)

ALSO: Despite the clamor over Part D in the media, there are signs that the new drug benefit may be a success, The Christian Science Monitor soberly reports. Sixty-five percent of seniors enrolled in Part D were happy with it according to one survey. More than 80 percent reported no problems filling prescriptions, according to another poll. Forty-two percent say what they pay for prescriptions has gone down. Article

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