Marlene Hart

Welcome to the world of Medicare Part D, said Marlene Hart, executive vice president of the Duluth-based Minnesota Citizens Federation-Northeast.

"I don't know what these people are going to do," Hart said."That's half their annual income.

"Our organization has repeatedly asked Congress to either control wholesale drug prices or allow pharmacies to import their inventories," said Marlene Hart, the federation's executive vice president.

Marlene Hart is just one of the thousands of Northlanders who rely on prescription medications, but has trouble covering the costs because she doesn't have drug coverage.

"Sometimes I was just not able to take the medication, because I couldn't afford it and therefore not getting the benefit of medical care," said Marlene Hart, Minnesota Citizens Federation.

That's now changed that she's taking advantage of a program offered through the Minnesota Citizens Federation and MedSave, a prescription discount pharmacy that sells generic medications.

"I'm saving 75 percent.

At the left is Marlene Hart, Vice President of the Northeast Minnesota Citizens Federation. (Photo by Naomi Yaeger-Bischoff)

Thirty people met at a public forum to discuss de-privatizing Minnesota's Health care programs.The forum was held at the Wellstone Memorial Hall in the Labor Temple on London Road in Duluth on Saturday, February 25.It was sponsored by the Northeast Minnesota Citizens Federation.

"Now it is clear that the decision was a mistake," said Marlene Hart, of the decision to privatize the administration of Minnesota's Medicaid and Minnesota Care.Hart is executive vice president of the Northeast Minnesota Citizens Federation.She said these companies had cooked the books.