News accounts have reported that some Medicare beneficiaries have encountered hidden restrictions when they try to obtain prescription drugs through the new Medicare drug plans. Even when a drug is listed as available through a plan formulary, unexpected barriers — such as “prior authorization” requirements, “step therapy” requirements, and “volume limits” — have been used by the sponsors of drug plans to delay or deny access. The use of these restrictive tactics means that even if seniors have carefully researched a Medicare drug plan, they can still encounter obstacles in obtaining medications.