Morning After Post

I wan't going to post this weekend, but I found myself with some free time this morning, and decided to go with Plan B, while hunched Over-the-Counter in my kitchen. I just couldn't justify delaying this any longer, you dig?

Focus on Medicare

I got to take a little break from my cube and computer last week to participate in a focus group on Medicare Part D. It was the second time I had been invited to do so in my Company, and I was eager to voice my opinion. This time, we were being asked to evaluate educational materials for both patients and employees. The idea is that we as employees may be asked by patients what it's all about, and we should be knowledgable.

But first, we got to sound off on the program as a whole, and my fellow employees did not let me down. No myrmidons we, many negative opinions were expressed. I spoke about how the complexity of the program was a direct result of our lobbying against any kind of single payer system, while others worried about the liability of Medicare, especially after I pointed out that it will be insolvent far sooner than Social Security. The Public Affairs guys and gals in the back of the room took notes. I don't know if they were expecting this.

I have not missed an opportunity to say something about Part D whenever I could, and truthfully, I've never felt uncomfortable expressing anti-industry opinions in forums such as this. My company has one of the lowest rates of employee contribution to PACs in the industry, so I like to think that there's a lot of independent thinking going on here.

Still I remain vigilant. I've heard people complain about Medicare Part D in terms of its complexity - it's usually something like "God---ned government can't do anything right. Why do they make my mother/father/relative shop around for these ridiculous cards?" I don't hesitate (and neither should you, loyal reader(s)) to enlighten that person. It was us. We caused it to be like that. Without those cards, without the shopping around, without the explicit prohibition of government price setting like the Veterans Administration has, the program would not exist. We simply wouldn't allow it. After all, you are only citizens, and we write your laws for you.