• Medicare Drug Benefit Enrollment Begins
  November 15
• Medicare Rx Drug Finder Now Available
• Some Big Corporations Will Drop Coverage for Retirees Joining Part D
• House Leaders Postpone Vote on Budget Bill
• Member Mobilization Secures Key Election Victories
• U.S. Residents Reimporting More Rx Drugs
• Mail-Order Pharmacies Make Fewer Errors
• UTNO Seeks Court Order To Open
  New Orleans Schools
• AFT PLUS Helps You Save with Pet Insurance
• Quote of Note: Employer Drug Retiree Drug Coverage
• Web Site of the Week: http://www.walmartmovie.com/host.php?track=caf/

Medicare Drug Benefit Enrollment Begins
November 15
Beginning November 15, Medicare beneficiaries can start to enroll in drug plans offered by private insurers, officially known as Medicare Part D. Drug coverage is not automatic and enrollment is voluntary. Although those with poor or no drug coverage benefit from Part D, the complexity of the drug benefit could stump even the savviest consumer. The AFT has prepared a Q and A for people with Medicare on our Web site at http://www.aft.org/. In addition, information about Part D and the entire program is available at our special partner Web site http://www.medicareinteractive.org/aft. Experts suggest that seniors and their families carefully consider their options before signing up with a plan. Retirees with existing drug coverage through a former employer or union should have received written notice from their health plan explaining that their drug coverage is "creditable," meaning it is the same as or better than Medicare Part D. Keep this letter! If your current coverage changes or ends, you will need this letter to avoid paying any late enrollment fees. If you are unsure about any part of the coverage, talk to your health plan administrator, local union or another trustworthy, independent counselor. One-on-one counseling is also available through your State Health Insurance Counseling Program (SHIP). Your local SHIP can be found at http://www.shiptalk.org/. The initial enrollment period runs from November 15 to May 15, 2006. Part D begins on January 1, 2006, for those who enroll by December 15. Coverage for those who sign up after December 15 begins the month following their enrollment.

Medicare Rx Drug Finder Now Available
After a series of delays, Medicare unveiled on Nov. 7 its Part D prescription drug plan finder, which allows users to compare the hundreds of private Part D plans being offered. Available at Medicare's Web site (http://www.medicare.gov/), the drug finder shows beneficiaries how much they will pay in premiums and drug costs under each plan in their area and suggests cheaper generic or alternative drugs. By entering your Medicare number, birth date and medications, you can get personalized information, such as whether your former employer provides drug coverage and if your income qualifies you for a subsidy in addition to information on costs. Advocates are concerned that the Web site may prove confusing for seniors and their families and note that seniors are less likely to use the Internet for research.

Some Big Corporations Will Drop Coverage for Retirees Joining Part D
The New York Times reports that some employers who provide retiree prescription drug coverage will not allow retirees who choose the new Medicare drug benefit to keep any employer-sponsored health benefits. Companies doing so include Boeing, Caterpillar, Verizon Communications, SBC Communications and the Southern Company, according to the November 4 edition of the Times. Many employers provide drug benefits within a comprehensive medical benefits package and generally do not charge a separate premium for drug coverage. Some employers say it would be difficult to separate the drug coverage from the larger benefits packages they currently offer. In addition, employers have an incentive to continue to provide retiree drug coverage because they will receive a subsidy from Medicare for each retiree enrolled in their drug plan. The subsidies will equal 28 percent of a retiree's drug costs, from $250 to $5,000 in 2006. The average subsidy will be about $668 per qualified retiree in 2006 with a maximum of $1,330 per retiree, according to the Bush administration. To help guard against disenrollment, retirees who already have drug coverage through their former employer and enroll in a Medicare drug plan will receive a warning letter from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Only if they continue to pursue signing up for a Part D plan after receiving the warning will they actually be enrolled.

House Leaders Postpone Vote on Budget Bill
Facing defeat, House Republican leaders November 10 abruptly called off a vote on a contentious budget-cutting bill in a striking display of the discord and political anxiety running through the party's ranks. The revolt was led by moderate Republicans, who bridled at the deep cuts in such key programs as Medicaid, student loans and food stamps. The bill would also increase the “look-back” period from three to five years where personal assets placed in trust or given to family members could be subject to sale to pay Medicaid long-term care expenses. The cuts in part would finance a $70 billion tax cut largely benefiting the wealthy. It was a stunning retreat for the Republican leadership that has prided itself on iron discipline and an ability to win even the most difficult floor votes consistently. It also came in the wake of Democratic election victories that left Republicans worried about the 2006 midterm contests. House Republican leaders said they would try again this week to find a majority for more than $50 billion in spending cuts and policy changes. The fiscal fight is not limited to the House. Senate Republicans on the Finance Committee failed to win approval for a bill with $68 billion in tax cuts. Key dissident, Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Me.) continued her opposition. Democrats in both chambers remained unanimously opposed to the bills. AFT members have sent thousands of e-mails opposing both bills. The national union voiced its opposition in a letter to House members and as a member of the Leadership Coalition of Aging Organizations. In a letter to House members, AFT legislative director Tor Cowan wrote, “In the end, everyone would pay for these cuts in Medicaid. Private health insurance plans would have to help pay the increased costs of uncompensated care. The health insurance benefits that employers offer their workers might be trimmed and premiums increased to offset the rising cost of uncompensated care.” If you haven’t yet sent a letter to House members and senators, don’t delay: Another vote could come as early as this week. Visit http://www.unionvoice.org/legislativeaction/home.html to oppose budget reconciliation today.

Member Mobilization Secures Key Election Victories
AFT-backed candidates and positions rolled to victory in the marquee matchups that shaped the November 8 elections. In California, the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) joined labor and citizen groups across the state in turning back propositions backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to weaken teacher tenure, bypass voter-approved school funding guarantees and cripple the ability of members to participate in the political process through their unions. The vote in California capped almost a year of political action by the CFT, working in cooperation with other labor unions. AFT activism also helped make the difference in the Virginia governor's race, where Democratic Lt. Gov. Tim Kaine defeated state Attorney General Jerry Kilgore despite a last-minute appearance by President Bush. Kaine ran an issues-based campaign and embraced labor as a partner to keep Virginia moving forward, noted Marian Flickinger, president of the Norfolk Federation of Teachers and also president of her AFL-CIO central labor council. "This election really shows that a coordinated labor response works," she says. The most bruising contest took place in New Jersey, where Democrat Jon S. Corzine prevailed in his gubernatorial bid despite a barrage of attacks from GOP challenger Doug Forrester. Union members across the state participated in meetings, literature drops and other efforts to highlight Corzine's 100 percent AFT voting record as a U.S. senator. That helped deflect personal attacks against Corzine, and the Democrat came away with a double-digit victory. This week's elections intensified hopes and fears that the midterm elections could bring significant losses to supporters of the Republican leadership’s hard-right agenda. Recent polls have shown that the public's dissatisfaction with Congress is worse than President Bush’s dismal approval numbers, the lowest of his presidency.

U.S. Residents Reimporting More Rx Drugs
U.S. consumers are importing a substantial and increasing amount of prescription drugs, but federal regulators have only very limited ability to intercept shipments, according to a report released on November 10 by the Government Accountability Office. Almost all prescription drugs purchased from pharmacies abroad are illegal under federal law because such pharmacies operate outside of U.S. regulations, but several state and local governments have enacted legislation that allows the practice. The report said that millions of shipments of prescription drugs are imported into the U.S. annually, although the exact number remains undetermined. Estimates submitted to Congress have ranged from 2 million to 20 million shipments. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection task force is studying the issue, but more specific priorities and benchmarks are required, according to the report.

Mail-Order Pharmacies Make Fewer Errors
Fewer than one prescription per 1,000 orders filled at Medco Health Solutions mail-order pharmacies, most of which use automated pill counters, scanners and computer safety checks, had errors, according to a study published in the November issue of Pharmacotherapy. Medco examined 21,252 randomly selected prescriptions in 2003, finding an error rate of 0.075 percent, and none of the mistakes was considered serious, such as giving the wrong prescription, wrong dose or wrong form of medicine. Medco automatically fills 95 percent of the prescriptions it processes by mail order. A 2004 report by Business Communications indicates that the use of automated machines in filling prescriptions has increased, particularly with improving technology and pressure from regulators, medical professionals and consumers to improve safety. The Medco study did not include prescriptions lost in the mail.

UTNO Seeks Court Order To Open
New Orleans Schools
Charging that the Orleans Parish School Board has failed to fulfill its duty to provide a free appropriate public education, the United Teachers of New Orleans (UTNO) and two parents of New Orleans public school students are seeking a court order to compel the board to open schools immediately. UTNO and the parents argue that the board has the facilities, students and staff to reopen schools, charging that any delay will cost students an opportunity for education and compromise the city's ability to recover from the disaster. "This delay has gone on far too long," says UTNO president Brenda Mitchell. "Every day it continues it compounds the magnitude of this gross disservice to the children and families of New Orleans. Right after the hurricane, there were announcements that New Orleans schools would not reopen for the entire year. We felt differently, knowing that, first, all buildings were not unusable; second, that teachers and students would want and need to return to work and school; and, third that the city could not begin to recover without being able to offer schools to families who were able to return." The city has announced plans to open eight charter schools this month with a similar number to open shortly. A hearing on the suit is scheduled for November 22.

AFT PLUS Helps You Save With Pet Insurance
AFT PLUS pet insurance and Pet Assure veterinary care can help you save a bundle.
Pet insurance includes policies for older pets, accident-only coverage and more. For details, visit http://www.unionpluspets.com/ or call 866/473-7387. Pet Assure Veterinary Care Savings allows you to save 25 percent off your bill at participating veterinarians. AFT members receive a 40 percent discount on the monthly fee. The plan covers all pets, including exotics and horses. Coverage includes: preventive care, shots, surgery, X-rays, lab work, medications and more. Your savings come directly off your veterinary bill. For more information or to enroll, call 888/789-7387 or visit http://www.unionplus.org/pets/pets.cfm.

Quote of Note: Employer Drug Retiree Drug Coverage
“If the plan is creditable [as good as or better than Part D coverage], retirees do not face a late enrollment penalty if they stick with their employer’s plan and opt to enroll in a Medicare private drug plan later (as long as they are not without comparable drug coverage for more than 63 days).”

Medicare Rights Center

Web Site of the Week: http://www.walmartmovie.com/host.php?track=caf/
“Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices,” a searing documentary about the nation’s largest employer, premieres in more than 6,000 locations November 13 to 19. Screenings are free and part of a massive week-long grassroots campaign sponsored by several groups, including Americans at Work and labor’s Wal-Mart Watch and Wake Up Wal-Mart. To find a screening near you, simply click on the site and enter your zip code.