Senior Dems are demanding that HHS turn over internal documents on Trump's plan to give seniors $200 discount cards to buy prescription drugs, following our report that the department's top lawyer warned the plan could violate election law
"HHS does not comment on alleged, leaked documents," a spokesperson for the department said, referring additional questions about the draft letter to Medicare officials.
But the $7.9 billion proposal, which would be paid for by dipping into one of Medicare's trust funds, has come under fire from Democrats and outside watchdogs, who have called it inappropriate and potentially illegal. The Trump administration says it's a legally permissible use of Medicare powers to "test" new ways of funding care.
In addition, the Democrats are seeking a copy of the draft letter that officials had planned to send to 39 million Medicare beneficiaries announcing the rollout of the drug cards. Three officials last week told POLITICO that the draft letter has been carefully guarded amid growing legal scrutiny of the plan. Though the vast majority of the drugs cards were unlikely to go out before Election Day, administration officials have been hoping to provide notice to seniors by then.
"HHS does not comment on alleged, leaked documents," the spokesperson said, referring additional questions about the draft letter to Medicare officials.
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