Congressional Response: Representative Ronnie Shows (D-4th, Mississippi) Responds To Your Prescription Drug Petition

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Congressional Response: Representative Ronnie Shows (D-4th, Mississippi) Responds To Your Prescription Drug Petition

Thank you for contacting me about the high cost of prescription drugs for seniors. Last year I voted against H.R. 4680, a bill regarding prescription drug benefits, because it would not benefit all Medicare recipients. Instead, it would have given $40 billion dollars to insurance companies to “encourage” them to serve people on Medicare!

If Congress is going to give $40 billion dollars away, it should help everyone on Medicare have access to affordable drugs. H.R. 4680 does not ensure access because the cost of monthly premiums is unknown and it is uncertain that insurance companies would even offer plans that would only cover prescription drugs. In fact, senior citizens groups such as the American Association of Retired People (AARP), the Leadership Council on Aging Organizations, and the Older Women’s League (OWL) expressed concerns about H.R. 4680.

I oppose proposals to create a so-called prescription drug “discount card” for those on Medicare. This would hurt local pharmacies and would not guarantee that seniors would receive reasonable prices or true discounts for prescriptions.

A different proposal would give people on Medicare the option of purchasing drug coverage through Medicare. Under this plan, Medicare beneficiaries who choose this option will pay a premium of $24 per month beginning in 2002 and $44 beginning in 2008 for coverage of prescription drug costs up to $5,000 annually. These premiums would be deducted from Social Security checks. Those who wish to keep private insurance could do so without any deductions from Social Security.

I am a cosponsor of the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act, a proposal which would substantially lower the costs of what senior citizens pay for drugs. This does not have an added benefit for Medicare and there is no premium involved. This legislation would allow senior citizens to purchase their prescription drugs at the same discount that large HMOs and the government purchase the drugs. Our seniors, who have spent a lifetime working hard and paying taxes, deserve the peace of mind to know they will have the medicine they need.

Sincerely,
RONNIE SHOWS
Member of Congress

September 2002