CMS administrator Dr. Mark McClellan defended the new prescription drug benefit in testimony before Congress on Wednesday. McClellan told the Senate Finance Committee that the government is looking for ways to simplify Medicare Part D to make the program easier for participants to understand. McClellan faced criticism from Democrats who said the benefit's problems reflect a lack of planning on the part of organizers. McClellan resisted calls for Congress to intervene, saying that most problems should be solved as personnel are added to respond to queries and steps are taken to allow program participants to make comparisons between plans.
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PLUS: The Los Angeles Times reports on a glitch that makes the Medicare.gov price comparison tool "wildly inaccurate" in many cases. Article
ALSO: Frustrated by the drug benefit, a Dallas pharmacist has decided to stop accepting Part D plans. Instead, he's created his own version of the benefit for his customers. Article