Medicare Commercials Broke Law, GAO Says

[conjur]

http://drkoop.com/template.asp?page=newsdetail&ap=93&id=1504170

Bush administration TV ads to promote changes in Medicare's prescription drug coverage broke two federal laws because they were disguised as news reports but didn't identify who was sponsoring them, the nonpartisan investigative arm of Congress has ruled.

The General Accounting Office (GAO) said the ads, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, did not make it clear that the announcers were paid by HHS and weren't real correspondents, the Washington Post reported.

The GAO's 16-page opinion says the ads violated a federal law that bars the use of federal funds for propaganda, and a separate statute that covers unauthorized use of federal monies. The ruling doesn't carry legal weight, however.

The three ads, two in English and one in Spanish, cost about $44,000. The ads were aired by some 40 television stations nationwide, the Post reported.

Separately, new research finds that Medicare is paying an average of 8.4 percent more to people enrolled in private insurance plans that those enrolled in the typical Medicare plan. The Commonwealth Fund's conclusions appear to conflict with the intent of Congressional legislators, who recently introduced private insurers into the Medicare mix in an attempt to encourage competition and ultimately save the system money.

The Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation, issued a statement saying, "The policy of increasing payments to private managed care plans needs to be carefully monitored to determine if it is achieving its objectives and is making the best use of funds for Medicare beneficiaries."

 

[ElFenix]

ummm... ok...

 

[dahunan]

Come on.. Bush is .. like... making a fashion statement ... like .. yo ... these lies and stuff are trendy.. ya know what I'm saying....

Propaganda?? from Bush.. GET REAL... the GAO is full of anti-American traitors.. send those bastards to Cuba....

How dare they disagree with anything this administration does...

 

[dmcowen674]

"The General Accounting Office (GAO) said the ads, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, did not make it clear that the announcers were paid by HHS and weren't real correspondents, the Washington Post reported."

Awwwwww, guess they don't like Terri Farrel (DAX on Deep Space Station 9). It was her voice.

 

[sandorski]

oops

 

[Strk]

I thought this happened a while ago?

 

[XZeroII]

um, how is Bush involved in this? In any way...

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: XZeroII
um, how is Bush involved in this? In any way...

It's his administration, eh?

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: XZeroII
um, how is Bush involved in this? In any way...

Ummm...it's ALL Bush's fault...didn't you get the memo?

CkG