Congressional Response: Representative John Sullivan (R-1st, Oklahoma) Responds To Your Prescription Drug Petition

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Congressional Response: Representative John Sullivan (R-1st, Oklahoma) Responds To Your Prescription Drug Petition

Thank you for your letter regarding the importance of a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. I appreciate hearing your thoughts and suggestions.

As a member of the Speaker's Prescription Drug Action team, I have been working hard to make sure that we lower the costs of prescription drugs now and guarantee all senior citizens prescription drug coverage. There are simply too many of our nation's senior citizens who choose between food and prescriptions, or in Oklahoma between air conditioning and prescriptions, putting them at serious risk for heat stroke and other complications. H.R. 4954, passed by the House in July, gives immediate relief to all seniors for prescription drug costs, with market-based competition saving seniors at least 15% off their prescriptions shortly after the President signs the benefit into law. Nearly 44% of those on Medicare will qualify for full coverage of all costs, which is especially helpful to senior women who usually live longer than men but have significantly lower incomes.

I have talked to many senior citizens in the Tulsa area about the problems they are facing in trying to keep up with the cost of their prescription drugs. I have heard their personal stories, and I am working proactively to make sure we help seniors get the prescription drugs they so desperately need. Again, I appreciate hearing from you.

John Sullivan
Member of Congress

October 2002