Peter Ashkenaz Quotations

The people who don't take any action at all could actually find themselves just covered by Medicare or Medicaid ... so it's real important that they look at the information they received in the mail.

We're getting people into the right plans and the right computer systems as fast as we can.

We have a short time to be working with the plans to make sure the beneficiaries get the information. Some plans are already doing it.

Pharmacists are saying there are still some bumps, but things are getting better.

If they wait, they're taking a big gamble.

From everything we've seen, those problems are in the past.

With millions of people in the program, you are going to see all sorts of different scenarios. This (situation) is unfortunate.

States are eventually going to save billions of dollars under the new program. And that's why very few states decided to join this lawsuit, despite requests for them to do so.

Time is truly of the essence to give us time to review the plan and the state time to implement it.

We needed to get the letters out now, so people know they will either need to take action come Nov. 15 or not take any action and be automatically enrolled in a plan.

We'd like to make sure it doesn't get to be widespread.

There is nothing in the Medicare law that prohibits drug companies from providing these sorts of programs to people with Medicare.

You have to remember that Congress created the Part D program to begin January 1, 2006. So we put all the contingencies in place to handle as much as we did.

The rules are established by the companies. As we understand it, the requirements for these programs are that you can't have access to prescription drug coverage and still qualify for the program. They can change that. It's up to them; it's not up to us.

As long as the drug that is being prescribed is medically necessary, the plan will cover this drug.

You should never give out any personal information to people you don't know.

It's real important to look at the lessons we learned to see what we can use to make it better. ... It comes down to what makes sense for the beneficiary and also keeps the plans viable.

All the protections are truly in place for this group of people.