There is little doubt that the new prescription drug benefit was last week's top healthcare story. Problems with Part D's roll out made headlines from coast to coast all week. Expect coverage to kick up several notches in the build-up to the President's State of the Union address, which is widely expected to focus on the administration's plans for resolving the nation's healthcare crisis. This week, Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Diane Feinstein (D-CA) will introduce legislation that would require the federal government to reimburse states for the costs of guaranteeing medicines to their citizens during the transition. Separate legislation would force the government to pay back Medicare recipients for out of pocket expenses incurred during the transition.
- see this article from the Newark Star Ledger
ALSO: Not surprisingly, a new AP poll conducted over the weekend finds that majority of Americans are "confused" about the new benefit. Article