Legislators applauded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ announcement on Monday that it would scrap plans to change the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.
In January, CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner announced plans to modify Medicare Part D to allow insurers to limit coverage for specific classes of drugs and to modify the pharmacy networks policy.
Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-N.C.) introduced the Keep the Promise to Seniors Act, which would have blocked the proposed rule. Ellmers said she would continue to work to protect the health plans of seniors following CMS’s announcement that it would pull back on Medicare Part D changes.
“This announcement is merely that and sets no safeguards to prevent the Obama administration from changing course, as we have seen over and over again with the failed rollout of Obamacare…,” Ellmers said.
In a letter to legislators on Monday, Tavenner announced that the proposal was withdrawn due to the complexities of the issue and stakeholder input.
“We will engage in further stakeholder input before advancing some or all of the changes in these areas in future years,” Tavenner said.
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said the Obama administration “did the right thing.”
“The next step is revisiting the severe cuts to the Medicare Advantage program, which undermine quality health care delivered through the private market to millions on seniors on Medicare,” Hatch said. “I hope the administration continues to walk away from policies it has previously supported that undercut successful programs that help seniors lead healthier lives.”
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said Congress should support bipartisan legislation that expresses disapproval of proposals that impact healthcare for seniors.
“As Part D approaches a decade of providing access to affordable prescriptions for seniors, Congress must redouble its efforts to work with all parties to ensure the long-term viability of the successful Part D program,” Camp said.