States act on Medicare Part D after problems emerge

The new prescription drug benefit went into effect last week with reports of some problems emerging. Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Vermont took action to make sure that elderly and low-income recipients are able to receive medicines until matters are sorted out. Vermont's legislature went perhaps the farthest, declaring a "public health emergency in response to the benefit." Maine said it spent $2 million covering the shortfall last week. There have been reports that some pharmacies have refused to fill prescriptions and that in some cases low-income recipients have been overcharged for their medicines.

- see this article from The New York Times

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