Coburn decries checks for drugs

WASHINGTON — As President Barack Obama and his administration promoted health-care reform, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn continued to deride it Tuesday, specifically a $250 check for older people for the Medicare drug coverage gap.

The Oklahoma Republican, a staunch opponent of the reform measure that is viewed by others as a huge victory for the president, also said Oklahoma already is experiencing an increase in complaints over the lack of access because physicians are dropping Medicare like a "hot potato."

"The $250 bump for the Medicare Part D will apply to less than 10 percent of the Medicare patients that are out there," Coburn said during a teleconference call with reporters.

He described it as ironic that even that amount of money will have to be borrowed from the recipients' grandchildren.

"I think it is an abomination," Coburn said.

Although not in Congress at the time the prescription drug benefit was passed, the senator said he opposed it because those who are receiving the benefit today never paid for it, and that will leave a $13 trillion unfunded liability for future generations.

"That was a whole problem with Medicare Part D," Coburn said.

He and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., who, like Coburn, was a physician before he entered politics, accused the Obama administration of misleading Americans about health-care reform.

They focused that charge on Medicare Advantage plans.

Coburn said that despite what the administration tells older people, their benefits will decrease while their costs will increase.

He predicted that companies will not continue to offer Medicare Advantage plans, adding that that was the intent of the administration's approach to health care.

In poor, rural areas, Coburn said, people cannot afford a Medicare supplemental policy, so Medicare Advantage actually helped equalize medical treatment for the poor.

"Delayed care is denied care," he said.

Jim Myers (202) 484-1424
jim.myers@tulsaworld.com

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Coburn decries checks for drugs

He says the money for Medicare recipients is being borrowed from their grandchildren.

WASHINGTON — As President Barack Obama and his administration promoted health-care reform, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn continued to deride it Tuesday, specifically a $250 check for older people for the Medicare drug coverage gap.

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