• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Senator says agreement will fix Medicare reimbursements

Senator says agreement will fix Medicare reimbursements

November 18, 2003 By admin

Longtime inequities in the Medicare program that deprive rural states like Iowa of millions of dollars will be fixed under the agreement reached Sunday by Congressional negotiators, according to Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. He says the portion of the plan adding prescription drug benefits will enable millions of the nation’s seniors and people with disabilities to get the proper medications. Grassley says those people, many of whom are low-income, will no longer have to chose between food and drugs or between heat and drugs. Democrat Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says the plan is “convoluted” and a boon to big business, not seniors. Harkin says it’s turned into a “sweet deal that will provide billions of dollars in bribes to private H-M-Os in the country” and “billions in profits to pharmaceutical companies.” Grassley, a Republican, disagrees with Harkin, saying the plan will wipe out the current “scheme” where drug companies keep generic drugs off the market. Grassley says people with joined plans will be able to negotiate for big discounts from the pharmaceutical companies. He says drug makers will also have competition from foreign drug producers and they’ll no longer have a monopoly in the U-S, bringing prices down. And as for the Medicare inequities, Grassley says the bill would mean at least another 440-million dollars for Iowa health care providers and hospitals.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Chuck Grassley

Featured Stories

ISU research finds health benefits for chickens watching virtual reality

Fish kill at Storm Lake linked to virus that impacts only carp

Final employee who was there at the launch of the Iowa Lottery to retire

No more USPS mail in Iowa prisons; inmates to get copies of mail

State officials warn of influx of fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa unranked to open the season

UNI’s Spencer Cuvelier bounces back from injury

Hutchinson calls Iowa State a perfect fit

Northern Iowa’s Farley touts new practice facility

First minor league game gets things started tonight at Field of Dreams site

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC