Opinions on Medicare Reform/Drug Benefit bill

AORN Journal,  March, 2004  

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Initial reactions to the Medicare Reform and Drug Benefit bill indicate that while 8% of individuals age 65 and older were very pleased that the bill passed, 37% of respondents in the same age group were very disappointed, according to a Wall Street Journal Online Health Care Poll conducted by Harris Interactive. The nationwide poll of 2,465 US adults ages 18 and older was conducted online Dec 3-5, 2003. Study findings include that

* 55% of all respondents approved of the prescription medication benefit compared to 33% who disapproved;

* 65% approved of the drug discount card compared to 25% who disapproved; and

* 17% approved of the ban on less expensive, imported medications, compared to 76% who disapproved;

Forty-two percent of those surveyed said they did not know enough about the bill to form an opinion, and a significant number of others answered "not sure" to aft the questions. Most of the questions in this poll were asked only of the 58% who said that they did know enough about the bill to have an opinion.

"Initial Reactions to Medicare Reform and Drug Benefit Bill More Negative than Positive, Especially Among Older Voters" The Wall Street Journal Online 2 (Dec 19, 2003) http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters/wsj healthnews/WSJOnline_HI_Health-CarePoll2003vol2_iss i3.pdf (accessed 29 Dec 2003).

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