Medicare Part D cost-saving plan draws opposition on several fronts

Among other things, the proposal would limit the types of antidepressants -- and other kinds of drugs -- that are available to Medicare beneficiaries. Drug industry and insurer groups are lining up against the change.

The Wall Street Journal: Medicare Urged To Rethink Revamp Of Part D Drug Plan 
Lawmakers from both parties asked the White House Wednesday to scrap a plan that would limit the types of antidepressants and other drugs available to seniors through Medicare. The plan, aimed at reducing drug costs, is part of a broad set of proposed changes to the Medicare Part D prescription-drug program that covers medicines for about 39 million beneficiaries. In January, the agency proposed ending the practice of covering essentially any type of antidepressant, antipsychotic or immunosuppressant drug for consumers in the program (Corbett Dooren, 2/26). 

Modern Healthcare: Drug, Insurer Groups Battle Medicare Part D Cost-Control Measure
Drug industry and insurance groups are lobbying hard to scuttle a proposed CMS rule aimed at controlling costs, increasing competition and curbing fraud in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program (Dickson, 2/26). 

CQ HealthBeat: Medicare Prescription Drug Proposal Attacked By House Republicans
A top official at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Wednesday defended several proposed changes to Medicare's Part D prescription drug program as Republicans blasted the rule and called for its revocation. At a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing, Chairman Joe Pitts, R-Pa., said the CMS-proposed rule would "dismantle the very features of the program that have made it so popular and successful" (Ethridge, 2/26).