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New Medicare Bill May Violate Seniors' Rights to Import Cheaper Drugs (Press Release)
Alexandria, VA (March 24, 2004) -- "Seniors should ask their Members of Congress why a 74-year old senior couple from Illinois was forced to file a federal lawsuit challenging new Medicare legislation," says George Smith, Chairman of TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL). "We think seniors have a right to know why the Illinois couple must spend $800 a month on medicine, hold down part-time jobs, and are forced to sell their home of 34 years because they are not allowed to legally import cheaper drugs from Canada," Smith states. "According to their governor's office, they could save an average of 43% on the drugs prescribed by their doctors if they had access to Canadian drugs(1)." Smith notes. "Our nation has had laws on the books since 2000 that are supposed to allow the legal importation of prescription drugs," Smith points out. "Congress even appropriated $23 million to get the program going,(2) " Smith adds. The Food and Drug Administration and Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services have continually refused to develop the regulations to help consumers safely import drugs, citing safety concerns. In recent months, however, critics -- including TSCL -- question whether the safety concerns are overblown. A report by Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently found that medications manufactured and distributed in Canada meet or exceed FDA quality standards.(3) According to the report, Canada and the U.S. regulate drugs in virtually identical ways. The report found that Canada's pharmaceutical controls mimic those in the United States, and that Canada also tracks drugs through each distribution step.(4) "TSCL urges seniors to contact their Members of Congress with these tough questions and ask them to quit stalling and enact The Pharmaceutical Market Access Act sponsored in the House by Representative Gil Gutknecht (R-MN). A companion bill is in the Senate," Smith declares. "In whose best interest is our government acting?" Smith asks. "Is the FDA protecting seniors when they are forced to sell their homes to be able to buy their prescription drugs -- or are they protecting pharmaceutical company profits?" Congressman Gutknecht's work on behalf of seniors was recently recognized when he received the TSCL "MVP" Award for Legislative Action 2003. Despite fierce opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, and an unprecedented effort by the FDA opposing the measure, Congressman Gutknecht's bill to allow drug importation passed overwhelmingly in the House last July. TSCL is a national group of politically active seniors concerned about the protection of their earned Social Security, Medicare, military, and other retirement benefits. TSCL members participate in a number of grassroots lobbying and public education campaigns designed to ensure governmental bodies, including the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, live up to their commitments. For more free information on our organization, please contact TREA Senior Citizens League, Department S607C, 909 N. Washington St., Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314, or visit our website at: www.tscl.org. (1) "Illinois Couple Files Lawsuit Over Drug Import Ban," The Associated Press, February 26, 2004. March 2004 | ||||||||
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