Medicare Rx State Block Grant Plan Lacks Full Support Of House Republicans
Executive Summary
House Republican prescription drug task force members are divided over whether to support a state-based approach to providing prescription drug coverage.
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Federal Policymakers In Brief
New Obama budget chief: President Barack Obama announced his nomination of Jacob (Jack) Lew to head the White House Office of Management and Budget on July 13. Currently the deputy secretary of state for management and resources, Lew has held a variety of federal posts, including heading OMB from 1998 to 2001 during the Clinton administration. During that earlier tenure, Lew issued policy statements on issues including the need to provide adequate safety oversight funding as part of any drug importation legislation (1"The Pink Sheet," Sept. 25, 2000) and urging a federal, rather than state block grant, approach to providing Medicare drug coverage (2"The Pink Sheet," Sept. 18, 2000). He also had been chief domestic policy advisor for several years for House Speaker Tip O'Neill, D-Mass. Current OMB Director Peter Orszag is expected to depart at the end of July
Federal Policymakers In Brief
New Obama budget chief: President Barack Obama announced his nomination of Jacob (Jack) Lew to head the White House Office of Management and Budget on July 13. Currently the deputy secretary of state for management and resources, Lew has held a variety of federal posts, including heading OMB from 1998 to 2001 during the Clinton administration. During that earlier tenure, Lew issued policy statements on issues including the need to provide adequate safety oversight funding as part of any drug importation legislation (1"The Pink Sheet," Sept. 25, 2000) and urging a federal, rather than state block grant, approach to providing Medicare drug coverage (2"The Pink Sheet," Sept. 18, 2000). He also had been chief domestic policy advisor for several years for House Speaker Tip O'Neill, D-Mass. Current OMB Director Peter Orszag is expected to depart at the end of July
House State-Based Senior Rx Plan Includes Funds For Pharmacy Services
State governments would be required to allocate a "reasonable percentage" of federal funding for senior drug assistance programs to cover the cost of pharmacy services under Rep. Bilirakis' (R-Fla.) HR 5151.