The Policy Environment: Why Did MMA (Medicare Part D) Pass - Essay Example

The Policy Environment: Why Did MMA (Medicare Part D) Pass? s The Policy Environment: Why Did MMA (Medicare Part D) Pass? The AARP group was extremely instrumental in the passing of the Medicare part D bill. The Medicare part D was a federal law in the United States of America which was enacted in 2003. The AARP group was in full favor of the initiative despite of the controversy which surrounded the plan. This was illustrated by its high contribution toward facilitating the passing of the bill (Summer, Nemore, and Finberg, 2007).

Organizations and individuals who were against the controversial plan condemned the bill for directing millions of united states of America dollars to private owned insurance companies. The AARP declaration that it was committed toward supporting the initiative changes significantly a number of people perception on the initiative. According to AARP, the plan was one of the most effective ways of reducing the health expenses among United States of America residents (Summer, Nemore, and Finberg, 2007).

The AARP provided the following reason for supporting the bill. To start with, as observed by AARP officials, a good number of American senior citizens suffered from high cost of drugs with limited subsidies. Therefore, the initiative was exceptionally crucial is relieving senior citizens the burden of high cost on drugs (Fox and Schofield, 2006). According to AARP, the plan offered subsidies to retired and senior citizens of the country. This coincided with the key agenda which led to the formation of AARP.

As observed AARP officials, the introduction of Medicare part D in the health sectors served as the inauguration of a healthy and productive society. The plan also provides a free and fair business competition in the health sector (Fox and Schofield, 2006). The AARP used all methods within its area of influence to facilitate the success of the plan. The bill was also helpful to AARP as it was intended to help the group in increasing its income. The selling of United Health MedicareRX plans would enable AARP to earn more million of United States of America dollar.

On the other hand, the Medicare part D granted the beneficiaries an option of getting their benefits from private health insurance schemes. After the success of the initiative, AARP was the largest beneficially of the plan (Hoadley, summer, Thompson et al, 2008). In their effort to demonstrate their support to the plan, AARP quoted some sections which were of benefit to United States of America citizens. They welcomed the attempt to involve community members in health insurance schemes. According to AARP, the Medicare part D would give an opportunity for customers to be involved in health care insurance schemes.

Additionally, AARP supported the adoption alert system that will indicate automatically the hiking in the insurance premiums (Bender, and Kwok, 2006). The AARP was very influential in ensuring the success of Medicare part D bill. It used both material and non material means in ensuring the passing of the bill. Being one of the strongest lobby groups in United States of America, AARP used its popularity to facilitate the passage of Medicare part D bill. AARP defended the scheme both inside and outside United States of America.

It staged campaigns all over United States of America with an aim of ensuring the success of the bill. AARP also staged civil education to inform the public about the content and the important of the bill. The group also conducted several meetings with all involved players to facilitate the success of the initiative (Nemore and Finberg, 2008). The group also held numerous town hall meetings all over the country to evangelize the important of the bill to its members. To ensure that the bill acquire adequate support outside united states of America and most specifically in countries where it gets commission, AARP enthusiastically sold the united states of America initiative all over the world.

AARP posted the scheme contents in its entire website to enhance easy access. It also planned conferences and seminar to educate the world on the relevant of the bill to the world healthy (Nemore and Finberg, 2008). On the other hand, AARP used its considerable wealth to publicize the bill. It used a large portion of its financial resources to fund plans for the success of the plan. In its endeavor to facilitate the success of the plan, the organization used more than $4.5 million from it’s saving.

Most of these funds were used in organizing seminars and conferences. Others were used in paying for adverts in media services which enhanced public sensitization (Nemore and Finberg, 2008). The organization employed more employees to aid public awareness initiative. Additionally, the group used another $ 1.4 of its wealthy in offering insurance cover to congress members, people seeking reduction on social security as well as administrators. All this spending was aimed at getting support to the bill from the relevant authorities all over the world.

AARP overuse of its resources attracted several criticisms from public. A significant number of social security beneficially blamed AARP for using their funds to support a controversial bill (Scalia, 2007). References Bender, J and Kwok W. (2006) Toward Making Medicare Work for Low-Income Beneficiaries: A Baseline Comparison 0f the Part D Low-Income Subsidy and Medicare Savings Programs, Eligibility and Enrollment Rules. Washington, D.C.: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Fox K. and Schofield, P. (2006). The Pharmacy Coverage Safety Net: Variations in State Responses to Supplement Medicare Part D.

Portland, Maine: University of Southern Maine, Muskie School of Public Service. Hoadley, L. Summer, J. Thompson et al, K. (2008). The Role of Beneficiary-Centered Assignment for Medicare Part D. Washington, D.C.: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. Nemore, P. and Finberg J. (2008).Medicare Part D: How Do Vulnerable Beneficiaries Fare? New York, NY: The Commonwealth Fund, Scalia, N. (2007). Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Fail Limited English Proficient Beneficiaries Oakland, CA: National Senior Citizens Law Center, Summer L, Nemore, P.

and Finberg P. (2007) Improving the Medicare Part D Program for the Most Vulnerable Beneficiaries New York, NY: The Commonwealth Fund. PRINT