MANAGED CARE September 2004. ©MediMedia USA
With the presidential campaign heading into the home stretch, Bush administration officials are scrambling to reap political dividends from what they consider to be one of their big achievements — Medicare reform. Kevin Keane, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, tells the Wall Street Journal that the problem is that many Medicare beneficiaries are confused about just how they benefit from the law, which sets up prescription drug coverage through health plans and pharmacy benefit managers. Unfortunately for Bush, a recent survey says that most Medicare recipients who plan to let this issue influence their vote plan to cast those votes for Sen. John Kerry.
Note: Sample consisted of 1,223 Medicare beneficiaries. Poll was taken between June 16 and July 21 by ICR/International Communications Research.
SOURCE: KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION/HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH