Drug coverage grace period to end April 1

WASHINGTON, March 16 (UPI) -- A transition period for the new Medicare prescription drug plan ends April 1 and health officials fear patients will be left without their needed medicine.

The 90-day period was set up to ensure seniors and disabled citizens don't get caught in a gap between what was previously offered and what their new federal drug plan will cover.

That didn't always work though and 36 states forked over money to ensure their residents didn't go without prescriptions.

In January, when the new Medicare plan started, thousands complained of being refused drugs.

The USA Today reports state officials, pharmacists and doctors fear when the transition period ends, people will find out the hard way their new drug policy doesn't cover what they need.

Peter Ashkenaz of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services called for insurance companies to inform their customers of what will be covered.

Kelly Brantley of Health Assistance Partnership, one of many state counselors on a conference call Wednesday, said no companies are doing this education.

Jude Walsh, an assistant to Maine Gov. John Baldacci predicted many people won't have the medicine they need.