WBUR’s Commonhealth Blog has an interesting back-and-forth on the issue of requiring prescription drug coverage as part of “MCC” — the minimum creditable coverage standards that specify what complies with the individual mandate. See it here
The original post is by Harvard Pilgrim COO Bruce Bullen and the responses by Lisa Kaplan Howe, HCFA’s Consumer Health Policy Coordinator and Bruce lay out the issues nicely.
The Connector has already mandated that plans include drug coverage starting in 2009, with a maximum deductible of $250. So the discussion is somewhat moot. At issue now is whether to allow plans to offer an alternative benefit with no deductible for generics and a higher deductible for brand name drugs.
Not related to this, but please check out Grand Rounds today at http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/2007/10/grand-rounds-volume-4-number-6.html. Some moving and insightful stories about experiences in hospitals. Thanks.
Mandating prescription drug coverage is good policy in my opinion. Anything to assist Americans that are burdened by the high costs of prescription drugs!
Access to health care and medications is only secondary to food for the success of any society. This is not only about helping the people who cannot afford their prescriptions, it is a matter of strategic importance.