FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
CONTACT: Yoni Cohen, (202) 225-3202

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee with jurisdiction over Medicare, issued the following statement in response to CMS’ latest enrollment numbers for the prescription drug program.

“The same people who counted weapons of mass destruction in Iraq for the CIA must now work at CMS. That’s the only plausible explanation for the agency’s latest enrollment numbers,” said Rep. Stark. “Even as CMS claims credit for people who had drug coverage prior to Part D – or currently have coverage unrelated to the Medicare prescription drug program – the agency fails to determine the number of people who still lack coverage. Yet that’s the number that matters most.”

“According to the Bush Administration’s Enron-style accounting, at least 6.5 million people remain without any prescription drug coverage. But the real number of seniors and people with disabilities lacking comprehensive drug coverage is undoubtedly higher. Rather than play with numbers, the Bush Administration should focus its energy on increasing enrollment. Delaying the May 15th enrollment deadline and waiving the corresponding late enrollment penalty would enable an additional one million people to sign up this year – and lower premiums for millions of Medicare beneficiaries for the rest of their lives,” concluded Rep. Stark.