Health review could raise costs for Medicare Rx

Medicare beneficiaries could see higher premiums for coverage of prescription drugs as a result of changes to

complex provisions in a draft healthcare Senate, a Republican, said Friday higher.

Are involved in running order for a powerful new commission that will recommend annual savings from Medicare to the Congress. These recommendations take effect unless overruled by the legislature.

Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said an amendment approved by the Finance Committee in the hours before dawn Friday to allow the Commission to recommend changes leading to higher premiums for Medicare prescription drugs. The Democratic amendment was approved by a 13-10 vote along party lines.

"The Americans consider that this proposal for health care means to them deserve to know that the premiums of Medicare prescription drugs would probably go up," Grassley said in a statement.

Whether the limitation provision is designed today, taxpayers cover three quarters of the cost of delivery, while Medicare beneficiaries pay the remaining 25 percent.

The amendment would allow the new Commission on Medicare recommended "reductions in federal premium subsidies" to private insurance schemes that provide benefits for prescription drugs. Office Grassley said that "subsidies" are bonus from taxpayers the cost of prescription diet. If they are reduced, the plans will make up the difference by raising premiums for seniors.
As originally proposed by the Chairman of the Finance Committee Max Baucus, D-Mont., The Commission Medicare was barred from recommending changes to benefits for health insurance or cost sharing.

A spokesman for Baucus said the bill would protect seniors and strengthen Medicare. "The commission Medicare Medicare will largely look to find savings and efficiencies in the Medicare program, which can only help the seniors," said the spokesman, Scott Mulhauser.

Grassley said that the Democratic amendment was directed to compensate for an agreement that exempts hospitals the cost of the commission cutting knife.
article source :  http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=8740262