Maine lawmakers seek overhaul of Part D

AUGUSTA – The Maine Legislature on Tuesday unanimously supported a resolution asking the U.S. Congress and President George W. Bush to overhaul the Medicare Part D drug plan.

The nonbinding resolution calls for significant changes in the complicated federal drug benefit that took effect in January. Those changes include requiring the government to negotiate lower drug prices, removing the penalty for people who do not sign up by May 15, standardizing the coverage offered by dozens of private companies that sell the plans, and ensuring that state budgets are compensated for any costs they incur in maintaining citizens’ access to needed medications.

The measure’s sponsor, Art Mayo, D-Bath, said the Medicare Part D benefit “has the potential to be a real godsend for seniors if it is properly done,” but needs work to fulfill that potential. Similar resolutions have been passed in New Mexico, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire, and are pending in Massachusetts, New York and Hawaii.