US Medicare beneficiaries in 'donut hole' will see 50% discount on brand-name drugs in 2011

US Vice President Joe Biden, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Friday announced that the nation’s pharmaceutical manufacturers will provide 50% discounts on the cost of covered brand-name prescription drugs for beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, or donut hole, starting in 2011.

Vice President Biden and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made the announcement on a grassroots conference call with seniors from across the country. On the call, the Vice President and the Secretary discussed the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for seniors including the prescription drug discounts and provisions in the law that help fight fraud and make certain preventive care and annual wellness exams, free for most Medicare beneficiaries.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, millions of people with Medicare who will fall into the Part D donut hole next year will pay less for their prescription drugs,” said Vice President Biden, adding: “The discount manufacturers will pay on brand-name drugs, helping millions of seniors who are struggling to make ends meet at the end of the month, and it’s just one of the ways the new health care law helps make Medicare stronger.”