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Contact: Brad Bennett
202-225-4236
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A Prescription Drug Plan That Is Good Medicine
Washington,
Jul 1, 2002 -
In these times of escalating prescription drug prices, it is essential that seniors have access to affordable drugs to meet their medical needs.
The best way to accomplish this goal is to lower the costs of prescription drugs, ensure that all seniors have prescription drug coverage, and increase choices of coverage plans.
Last week the House of Representatives passed legislation to strengthen Medicare and add a prescription drug benefit for our nation’s seniors. The Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act balances the needs of hospitals, doctors and pharmacists while providing reduced prescription drug costs to all seniors under Medicare.
Health security is a cornerstone to secure retirement. While prescription drugs have helped millions of senior citizens improve their quality of life, the costs of these medicines also have skyrocketed – putting a pinch on those living on a fixed-income.
The rapidly rising costs of prescription drug coverage warrants immediate attention. Others in Congress are pushing proposals that take years to implement and expire soon after that. But I believe that we need to concentrate on a better way to provide a prescription drug benefits that will help seniors now.
Patients who live in rural areas also receive increased benefits and services under this plan. Those who live in rural communities need the same access to physicians as their urban counterparts.
As a member of the Rural Health Care Caucus, I am pleased that this bill addresses inequities between payments made to rural and urban hospitals, wage adjustments for physicians in rural areas, and funding to home health care organizations.
Not only does this legislation reduce the costs of prescription drugs, but it also recognizes the importance of pharmacists in providing prescription drugs, helps states cover their Medicaid costs, and enhances employer-sponsored health care benefits for retirees. It also eases the burdensome bureaucracy of Medicare and allows doctors to spend less time filling out paper work and more time taking care of their patients.
The Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act is a common sense, realistic approach that provides permanent coverage for seniors at a sensible cost and focuses special attention on the needs of low-income seniors and those facing exorbitant costs due to catastrophic illness.
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