Some tidbits from the WSJ online...
Higher Medicare Cost May Irk Conservatives
WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush's new budget projects the Medicare overhaul he just signed
will be one-third more costly than estimated and this year's federal deficit will surge past a half
trillion dollars for the first time, administration and congressional officials said Thursday.
The White House will estimate the cost of creating prescription drug benefits and revamping the
mammoth health-care program for the elderly and disabled at $534 billion for the decade that ends in
2013, the officials said. The number will be in the 2005 budget Mr. Bush proposes Monday. FULL STORY
Medicare Bill Opens Hiring for Its Architects
Drug and health-care firms are eagerly hiring officials who worked on the Medicare bill to
capitalize on its reshaping of the industry.
Lilly to Offer Medicare Discounts
Lilly will be the first big drug maker to join the discount program that is to be a bridge to the
new Medicare drug plan.
Medicare HMOs to Get More Funds
Private insurance plans participating in the Medicare program will get an estimated $500 million
more from the government this year.
Drug Subsidy Benefits Employers
Some companies with many retired workers are expected to post big earnings gains for 2003 or 2004,
thanks to accounting guidelines for subsidies under the federal prescription-drug program.
For-Profit Health Plans Don't Skimp
A study of Medicare HMOs made some surprise findings. They aren't as parsimonious as many assume,
but also aren't as efficient.
Medicare Will Reward Risk-Taking Insurers
The U.S. government will pay private insurers more for covering people with costly disease as part
of a new risk-adjustment system.
Health-Savings Not Subject to Taxes
Employers' contribution to workers' Health Savings Account won't be subject to Social Security
taxes, the Treasury Department said.
HHS Names Acting Medicare Director
Dennis Smith was named acting administrator of the agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid. He
succeeds Thomas Scully and will run the department until a permanent replacement is confirmed by
the Senate.
Hospitals Seek to Cut Billing for Poor
The hospital industry said it would consider making broad price cuts for the uninsured -- provided
the federal government approves -- in a stark admission that some hospital billing and collections
practices are unfair to needy patients.
Medicare Law Reaches Under-65 Set
Lurking in the Medicare bill is a potentially sweet tax break: People under 65 years old now will
have a chance to sock away pretax money in interest-bearing accounts to save for medical expenses.
Bush Signs Medicare Legislation
Bush signed the Medicare overhaul into law, hailing the measure's "better choices" at a campaign-
style signing ceremony.
ANALYSIS Social Security Fix Unlikely for Bush Political Capital: Bush's victory on Medicare takes
him closer to winning re-election, but further away from his second-term goal of fixing Social
Security. (Dec. 3, 2003)
Drug Makers Hand Democrats A Target on Prescription Bill Political Capital: By insisting on
superfluous language in the Medicare drug bill prohibiting the government from negotiating
prices, drug makers overplayed their hand and gave Democrats a reason to advocate price controls.
(Nov. 25, 2003)
Seeking Advantage From Medicare Deal Capital Journal: A Democratic debate hosted by the AARP about
Medicare drug-benefit legislation signaled ways the candidates can try to wring advantage now and
next fall from what appears at first blush a major White House victory. (Nov. 19, 2003)
An Experiment Well Worth Making Political Capital: The prescription-drug deal reached over
the weekend won't undermine Medicare, despite Democratic leaders' protests to the contrary.
(Nov. 18, 2003)
Readers Voice Their Pains Over Medicare's Future Capital Exchange: Readers and David Wessel discuss
the future of Medicare amid the prescription-drug bill pending in Congress. (Nov. 4, 2003)
Premium and Support Are Fighting Words In Medicare Debate Capital: The biggest fight in Washington
that isn't about Iraq has to do with "premium support," the battle cry of those who would inject
market forces into Medicare. (Oct. 30, 2003)
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