Leavitt's summary of the Part D disaster
Secretary of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, recently was quoted praising the Part D enrollment process, which ended last week, as a “remarkable American moment . . . sort of a de Tocqueville moment.” Well it seems that the administration has finally found the perfect analogy for the Part D disaster.
One of Alexis de Tocqueville’s famous observations is that it is easier for the world to accept a simple lie than a complex truth. This administration seems to be banking on this by trying to repeat over and over that Part D is a success despite the overwhelming evidence contradicting this.
The administration’s lies on enrollment numbers are a prime example of Tocqueville’s observation. Its a simple lie to say 90% of Americans eligible for Part D have signed up. However, the complex truth is the vast majority of these people already had drug coverage. Several million others are included that could either be double counted or don’t have verifiable coverage. The complex truth is that Part D has done a terrible job covering those who previously lacked prescription drug coverage, which was the target audience when the plan was created.
Leavitt may have been meaning to praise Part D by linking it to Alexis de Tocqueville. But he instead portrayed a disturbingly accurate picture of the Part D disaster and the administration’s political strategy.
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