News from DC, October 17, 2008

Researchers from the University of Michigan presented their findings concerning the impact of Medicare Part D on drug utilization and out of pocket spending at an event in Washington this week. At the same event researchers from the University of Maryland and Yale University presented information about the effect of Medicare Part D on presecription drug prices and utilization. To view the materials presented go to www.aei.org/event1814

Next Wednesday, October 22, the Advisory Panel on Medicare Education will meet in Washington, DC. To learn more about their activities visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/FACA/04_APME.asp


While Congress was not in session this week, some Congressional committees are meeting, not only in DC but in other parts of the country, particularly to consider the nation's economic situation. If you are in these areas, you may want to attend.

House Education and Labor Committee (Chairman Miller, D-Calif.) will hold a field hearing titled "The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Worker's Retirement Security." Wednesday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m. at 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place, Room 250, San Francisco, Calif.; Witnesses Scheduled: Shlomo Benartzi - professor, Anderson School of Management, University of California at Los Angeles; Mark Davis - partner, Kravitz Davis Sansone, Encino, Calif.; Jacob S. Hacker - professor, University of California at Berkeley



Senate Finance Committee (Chairman Baucus, D-Mont.) will hold a hearing titled "High Health Care Costs: The Cost Going Forward." Tuesday, Oct. 21, 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Hospital and Health Sciences Center 500 West Broadway, Conference Room 1 Missoula, Mont.
Witnesses Scheduled: Sara R. Collins - assistant vice president, Program on the Future of Health Insurance, The Commonwealth Fund; Fred Olson - chief medical officer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana; Leif Bjelland - owner, Le Petit Outre, Missoula, Mont.; Julie Foster - Missoula, Mont.