September 26, 2004

New Medicare law touches off huge battle between insurance companies and drug companies that could determine how many medicines will be readily available to Medicare beneficiaries; under law, private health plans will develop list of drugs approved for reimbursement to Medicare recipients; in general, insurers and drug benefit managers want to limit number of drugs, and types of drugs, on their lists, while drug companies want as many drugs as possible on each private health plan's list; Bush administration has retained private nonprofit organization, United States Pharmacopeia, to develop list of types of drugs that should be covered; guidelines, which serve as model for private plans providing new drug benefit, list 146 distinct categories and classes of drugs; under new law and administration rules, private plans must cover at least two drugs in each category and class; drug lists drawn up by health plans could determine how many people sign up for drug benefits and how many private plans participate; drug companies and patients argue that patients should have access to full array of drugs for major diseases; Sen John Kerry has denounced law as giveaway to insurance and pharmaceutical companies (M)

Article offers tip sheet on body language, linguistics and personal grooming that may hold clues to outcome of presidential election as Pres George Bush and Sen John Kerry prepare for their first debate; photos (M)

Anemona Hartocollis Coping column on apartment balconies in New York City, which became unused middle-class amenities once air conditioning was introduced; drawing (M)

New York Giants prepare to face Cleveland Browns and quarterback Jeff Garcia; photo (M)

Sen John Kerry, portrayed by associates as uncommonly bright, informed and curious, has deliberative executive style that has resulted in campaign that often moves slowly against swift opponent, and candidate who has struggled to synthesize information he sweeps up into clear, concise case against Pres Bush; even aides concede that he can be slow in taking action, bogged down in very details he is so intent on collecting; in his quest for information, he is always consulting ever-widening circle, rarely comfortable relying on one person or giving anyone too much power; aides rejoiced when he yielded his cellphone to an aide, move they hoped would limit his seeking out contrary opinions; his willingness to upend his staff has brought him some political triumphs, but that management style comes at cost; most of his top aides in campaign are longtime political professionals who have little history with him; result has been infighting and newspaper articles detailing dissension within campaign; photo (L)