Monday, November 13, 2006
CONTACT: Barry E. Piatt
or Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551
DORGAN CALLS ON ADMINISTRATION TO STOP MISLEADING MARKETING OF MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLANS
Senator cites plans that call themselves “complete” despite large gaps in coverage
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) --- U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) said Monday the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) needs to take immediate action to block companies from sending confusing or misleading information to seniors enrolling in Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.
Dorgan – in a letter sent along with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and 13 other Senate colleagues – said the issue is urgently in need of attention because the Medicare open enrollment period begins Wednesday. Many seniors may be confused or misled by marketing materials or plan names that describe the plans as “complete,” “premier,” or “gold” even though they contain significant gaps in coverage, the senators wrote.
CMS needs to revise marketing guidelines to ensure plans are not confusing or misleading, and drug plans’ gaps in coverage should be disclosed in all marketing materials, Dorgan said.
“Many of these drug plans have been named in such a way that they are at best confusing, and at worst deliberately misleading,” Dorgan said. “The Administration should require plans to be straight with our seniors. We also need to make sure that so-called ‘complete’ coverage is truly ‘complete’ by eliminating the donut hole altogether.”
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