Report Asks if Some Poor May Lose Coverage

WASHINGTON - Government auditors said Friday they are uncertain that all poor people now getting medicine through Medicaid will be able to get their prescriptions filled beginning Jan. 1.

That's the day when drug coverage for about 6 million disabled or elderly people switches to private plans offering a drug benefit through Medicare, a different government program. The people in question are particularly vulnerable to any drops in coverage because many have chronic health problems.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is automatically enrolling them into the private plans. However, even if 1 percent are overlooked during the transition, 60,000 people would have problems getting their medicine.

About one-quarter of people considered "dual eligibles" — those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid — live in nursing homes. About 40 percent of them have dementia or other impairments.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/ap_on_go_ot/medicare_transition

They should have had a dual period for 3 months or so to insure everyone has transitioned. Instead, everyone uses Medicaid through 12/31/05, and magically on 1/1/06 everyone will be signed up for the drug plan.

They could have required a system to fill the script, then have worked in the background with a patient (or their pharmacist) to ensure they were signed up for an alternative plan.