EPIC is a New York State program which provides drugs at discounted costs to
senior citizens whose annual income is $35,000 or less. The drugs range in
price from $5 to $20. Seniors pay a deductable which depends on their
income. The law which governs Medicare Part D (the Medicare RX program
administered by various private insurance companies, does not allow the
Social Ssecurity Administration to bargain with pharmaceutical companites in
order to gain the lowes possible prices on drugs.
Yesterday, I encountered a result of this policy. The pharmeceutical
company which manufactures an eye crop which I use and which is very
effective in controlling Glacauma, has announced that it will no longer be
part of the EPIC program. After all, why should this company give New York
State discounts for its seniors when it can charge anything it chooses to
Medicare? I'm sure that other companies will follow and EPIC will die as a
result.
EPIC is an easy program to use and it is very helplful financially to
senirs. But our Republican Admninistration and the drug companies are
killing it.
Posted by Miriam V.
No comments:
Post a Comment