WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Senator Susan Collins announced today that Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt has assured her that the State of Maine will be reimbursed for the more than $4 million that it has already spent to prevent a disruption of prescription drug benefits for seniors enrolled in the new Medicare drug plans. The new Medicare Part D program started January 1st, but due to computer errors and other start-up problems some pharmacies were unable to confirm enrollment of some seniors in the insurance plans. The State of Maine stepped in to temporarily cover the cost of the prescriptions for these seniors.
"I am pleased that Secretary Leavitt recognizes the unfairness of this situation," said Senator Collins. "It simply was not fair for Maine to be saddled with millions of dollars of costs due to problems in implementing the new Medicare drug program."
Secretary Leavitt informed Senator Collins he will require the insurance plans to reimburse the State for the cost of the prescriptions. If there is a difference between the reimbursements levels under the state Medicaid plan and the Medicare insurance plan, the Secretary told Senator Collins that his goal will be to make the state whole by negotiating with the insurance carrier and by increasing reimbursements for administrative costs. The Secretary assured Senator Collins that he expects the state to be reimbursed for the vast majority of its costs.