White House May Lack Faith in Medicare Drug Plan

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White House May Lack Faith in Medicare Drug Plan
Fri May 3, 5:36 PM ET
By Todd Zwillich

WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) - Officials in the Bush administration are not confident that the US Congress will succeed in adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare this year, Tommy G. Thompson, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (news - web sites), said Friday.


Thompson told reporters that he believes that members of Congress will reach an agreement on providing popular drug coverage for seniors prior to mid-term elections in November. Lawmakers, he said, will not be "satisfied" campaigning on guarantees of a new benefit, especially in redrawn congressional districts that could make re-election tougher for some.

"I think that come August, September, the pressure is going to be very high to deliver on prescription drugs," he said.

But Thompson also said that he is "a minority of one" in the Bush administration in his belief that a benefit--slated to cost up to $500 billion over the next decade--will be approved in this election year.

"I'm the only one in the administration who believes it's not going to fall by the wayside," he said. "I am alone and I readily admit that."

The comments come at the end a week in which Republican and Democratic lawmakers introduced competing prescription drug plans for Medicare's 39 million elderly and disabled beneficiaries.

One plan, introduced by Democratic Senators Bob Graham of Florida and Zell Miller of Georgia, would pay half of most seniors' drug bills up to $4,000 in exchange for a $25-per-month premium. The plan would pay the full cost of drugs above $4,000.

A competing plan sponsored by House Republicans charges a $250 deductible in addition to a monthly premium. The benefit also would pay a portion of drug costs up to about $2,000 per year, and then no money until paying 100% of the seniors' drug costs after $5,000.

Both plans provide more generous coverage for low-income individuals at or near the poverty level.

Sponsors of the two plans reacted Friday to Thompson's comments, saying a lack of optimism in the White House would do little to change their strategies. Lawmakers have voiced suspicions publicly and privately that administration officials are not counting on success in bridging the gaps between the parties this year.

"He may be a minority in the White House, but there will be a majority of members in the House who pass a bill," said Ken Johnson, a spokesman for Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA), the Energy and Commerce committee chair who co-sponsored the House GOP plan.

House Republican leaders have stated their intention to bring a prescription drug bill to a full vote before Congress recesses at the end of the month for Memorial Day. The Democrat-controlled Senate, meanwhile, still awaits more prescription drug proposals expected this month and has not yet scheduled a debate.

"Admittedly, it is going to be a very difficult and contentious debate," Johnson said.

Sen. Graham "is pleased that Secretary Thompson has that confidence" that Congress will succeed in approving a prescription plan, said spokesperson Jill Greenberger. Asked if a possible lack of optimism in the rest of the Bush administration could alter the debate in Congress, Greenberger said, "We'll see what happens."

White House officials could not be reached for immediate comment.