Congressional Response: Representative Max Sandlin (D-1st, TX) Responds to Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Protest Petition

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Congressional Response: Representative Max Sandlin (D-1st, TX) Responds to Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Protest Petition

In the summer of 2003, the House of Representatives voted on two proposals to add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

I supported a Democratic plan, based on H.R. 1199, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and Discount Act of 2003, that provides a guaranteed drug benefit under Medicare. Under this voluntary plan, seniors would receive a benefit with a reasonably-priced monthly premium, meaningful benefits, and catastrophic coverage available to all

beneficiaries regardless of their income and where they live. This legislation would have given rural seniors a fair deal and ensured that Medicare would always be available and affordable. Unfortunately, the bill failed by a vote of 175 – 255.

The so-called “prescription drug” bill that passed last year, the “Medicare Modernization Act” (MMA) does not begin until 2006 and relies on HMOs and private insurance companies to deliver prescription drug benefits.

Rural areas have not been served well or at all by the HMOs. This bill allows no control over the price charged by pharmaceutical manufacturers and there is a large gap in coverage where seniors receive no benefit but continue to pay premiums. I had offered an amendment to fill this gap in coverage, but it was rejected by the Republican leadership.

Those fortunate to already have drug coverage from their past employers should be scared. The structure of the bill is expected to cause up to one-third of retirees to lose existing coverage. The bill also introduces means testing for senior citizens for Medicare Part B premiums beginning in 2007, changing the fundamental premise of Medicare as a universal program open to all senior citizens 65 or older regardless of income.

Since the Republicans sponsored “prescription drug bill” passed, I have supported measures to eliminate some of the most onerous provisions included within it, such as privatization, barring the government from negotiating lower drug prices and the prohibition of safe drug re-importation. Be assured that I will continue to fight to improve Medicare and protect the benefits seniors deserve.

November 2004