We provide the plans to Medicare beneficiaries that they want.

The whole purpose of this drug benefit was to get drug coverage in the hands of all Medicare beneficiaries. Where are the people? That's the question.

I don't see how (Medicare) can get away with saying it's a wash. The plans might use different mechanisms, but they are going to bring costs up for people.

There's always a balance. You want on the one hand to be careful and thorough, but at the same time make sure that the candidate or candidates who have the strongest interest don't go elsewhere.

Arbitrary caps on Medicare will mean that providers or beneficiaries will have to make up the difference through lower payment rates or higher cost sharing.

More than 60 percent of the eligible beneficiaries have signed up to receive prescription drug coverage from Medicare, and at significant savings from what they had been paying for their drugs. In the past month alone, about 380,000 Americans signed up each week. Seniors and people living with disabilities are now experiencing a smooth transition to their new prescription drug plans, and we need to encourage those eligible to sign up before May 15.