With PhRMA solidly touting it (why wouldn't it? -- as this leads to more drug-price coverage) -- and with most people saying it works well, at an acceptable cost -- I think even the elite Republicans will avoid tinkering with it. Here's a bit from the PhRMA blog, overnight, on it all:
. . . .Part D expanded coverage to millions of Americans who previously didn’t have access to comprehensive prescription drug coverage. Prior to implementation of Part D, fewer than 6 in 10 Medicare beneficiaries had comprehensive prescription drug coverage. Thanks to Part D, that number has increased to 9 in 10 Medicare beneficiaries. And in 2016, there was an average of 26 Part D plan choices available to beneficiaries in every region. Learn more here.
Part D continues to offer affordable prescription drug coverage with monthly premiums remaining relatively stable and substantially less than original projections for 2017. And the generic utilization rate for Part D beneficiaries has steadily increased each year, from 84 percent in 2013 to 86 percent in 2015. The program also keeps costs low for taxpayers, with total Part D costs coming in $349 billion less than the initial 10-year projections. Learn more here.
Part D helps beneficiaries live longer, healthier lives with nearly 200,000 Medicare beneficiaries having lived at least one year longer since Part D was implemented in 2006. And the average increase in longevity for beneficiaries is 3.3 years. This improved health also helps reduce other health care spending through fewer hospitalizations and a reduction in nondrug medical spending for Medicare beneficiaries. Learn more here. . . .
Now, as many already likely detected/observed, the title to the post this morning pays homage to the star on the masthead -- another one whose passing has arrived all too soon. Even so. . . "Punch it, Chewy!" She's catching a ride out, via hyper-drive. . . Onward -- on a clear cold morning, to the trains. . . smile. Tryin' to get that mo jo back. . . .
नमस्ते
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