January 7, 2005
Since there wasn't enough flu vaccine this year, some elderly Americans who get the flu may get help from the government in paying for drugs to help them get better. Officials say Medicare will test the idea of providing antiviral drugs for some patients suffering from the flu.
Mark McClellan, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, says there are some prescription drugs that have proven effective in fighting influenza - in particular Tamiflu, zanamivir, amantadine and rimantadine - and the test project would help medicare recipients who lack drug coverage to pay for them.
During the demonstration period, Medicare patients can get as many as two prescriptions filled. The demonstration period runs through the end of May. McClellan says the purpose of the demonstration is to determine if it makes sense for Medicare to pay for these drugs.
This year's flu season has been fairly mild so far, but has been marked by a shortage of flu vaccine, due to problems at a British manufacturing plant, which produced half the U.S. supply.
