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Congressional Response: Representative Gene Green (D-29th, Texas) Responds To Your Prescription Drug Petition
Medicare and Prescription Drugs I am happy to post my views on prescription drug benefits through Medicare. I am a strong supporter of providing Medicare prescription drug coverage for seniors and lowering the overall expense of prescription drugs for all Americans. Prescription drugs play a critical role in preventing and treating illnesses. Over the past 20 years, there has been a surge in new medicines - more than 600 in all. Most private insurance companies recognize the importance of these vital prescription drugs and provide coverage for their enrollees. However, Medicare has failed to keep pace with private insurance, forcing many seniors to pay for these costly prescription drugs out of their own pocket. One-third of Medicare beneficiaries have no prescription drug coverage at all, while another 30% have limited or insufficient coverage. Oftentimes, seniors are paying top dollar for their medications. Studies of prescription drug costs in our Congressional district indicate that seniors with no drug benefit are forced to pay almost twice as much as preferred customers such as the federal government, foreign governments, large HMOs and insurance companies. I support creating a voluntary, comprehensive, and affordable prescription drug benefit for all Medicare beneficiaries who need it. Just as Medicare covers hospital stays and doctors visits for all seniors, I believe all seniors should have coverage for prescription drugs. Ideally, I support a plan that covers 80% of costs, with a 20% beneficiary copayment, similar to the Medicare Part B program. Unfortunately, given the high cost of prescription drugs, this proposal might take several years to implement. In the interim, I support proposals which cover half of seniors' prescription drug costs, with special protections for catastrophic drug costs. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1400, the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act of 2001, I also support legislation which requires pharmaceutical companies to sell prescription drugs to seniors at the same low price they sell the drugs to foreign countries such as France and Canada. The Congress debated this issue on June 27, 2002. Although several proposals have been discussed to create a Medicare prescription drug benefit, only one piece of legislation, H.R. 4954, was brought up for a vote. I opposed this legislation, because there were many flaws with its design and it would not provide seniors with a meaningful benefit. Specifically, under this bill, seniors would have to pay $900 out-of-pocket for their first $2,000 in drug costs. After that, they will have absolutely no assistance until they reach $3,700. This gaping hole in coverage means that seniors would have to continue paying their monthly premiums, but get absolutely nothing for them until their drug costs exceed $3,700. I support an alternative plan which would provide seniors with a generous benefit that includes a $100 deductible, 20 percent coinsurance, and a catastrophic limit of $2,000. This is the type of benefit that seniors have earned, and I will continue to push for meaningful coverage. At the end of the 107th Congress the Senate is still debating this issue; I hope we are able to pass this legislation before the upcoming adjournment. Thank you for the opportunity to post my views on the TREA Senior Citizens League website. Don't hesitate to contact me with your concerns on any other issue or if you think I can be of service. September 2002 | ||||||||
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