Bush's administration will appeal against prescription drug discount plan

by Anjetta McQueen
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON – The Bush administration will fight a federal court decision that blocked Medicare's plans to promote private pharmacy discount cards.

Yesterday, the official who runs the Medicare agency, Tom Scully, said the government will appeal the injunction, which is preventing the fall launch of the program. Bush officials say the promotional program would help millions of cash-strapped seniors get cheaper medicines.

"We are determined to get a prescription drug benefit for seniors," said Scully who runs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid, an arm of the Health and Human Services Department.

Drugstore chains had filed a lawsuit in July, arguing the plan did not clearly outline who must subsidize the lower prices. They also questioned whether federal officials had the power to promote the cards without Congress' approval. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman earlier this month blocked the start of the program.

Some lawmakers promised to support a bill that would make the plan a permanent law.

"We are going to try to get the prescription drug discount card up and running," Scully said.

The cards can lead to discounts of around 10 percent on some medicines, company officials say.