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Congress Must Move Forward On Prescription Drug Plans Adding prescription drug benefits to Medicare is a high priority for both President Bush and Congress-but whether Medicare recipients will see relief from high drug costs any time soon remains a big question. The first sticking point is who should receive benefits. Democrats and a few Republicans believe that Congress should make drug benefits available to everyone covered by Medicare. President Bush, and many Republicans say they would accept a broad prescription drug benefit, but only if it is linked to Medicare reform. Because there are concerns that broader Medicare reform may fail to move quickly, they advocate using state block grants to help low-income seniors pay for drugs. Under Bush`s plan, the federal government would provide $48 billion in direct support to states over four years to cover the full costs of a prescription drug program for seniors with incomes below $11,300 for individuals and $15,200 for a couple. That money would also cover part of the costs for seniors with incomes up to $14,600 and couples earning up to $19,700. Critics warn that states would oppose Bush`s block grant proposal because they would have to match the funding. They also warn that even if legislation is enacted this year it may take years for many seniors to receive benefits. To date, only 26 out of 50 states already have prescription drug plans or provide discounts. States without the programs would have to go through the legislative process of setting one up and by that time the four-year funding would be over. Doing nothing is NOT an option. A new study has found that 79% of all Americans over the age of 65 take at least one prescription medication a day. Other new studies indicate that seniors who do not have prescription drug benefits, or less generous benefits, tend to stop taking essential drugs leading to more time in emergency rooms, hospitals and nursing homes. Since both sides agree that low-income Medicare beneficiaries should receive help with the full costs of their drugs, we urge Congress to enact practical legislative solutions that get help quickly to Medicare recipients in need. TSCL also believes that as a universal program, a Medicare prescription drug benefit should be available to all. Adding a prescription drug benefit is too urgent to be put off, and may ultimately cost taxpayers more in higher hospitalization costs. For more information on this issue, see `Divided Congress Returns, Takes Up Prescription Drug Coverage,` The Social Security & Medicare Advisor, Feb. `01, V6#3. This article first appeared in Volume 6, Issue 5 of "The Social Security and Medicare Advisor" newsletter (April/2001). To receive future editions of "The Advisor" in its special, free e-mail version, please click here. | ||||||||
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