Sponsors Legislation to Eliminate Late Enrollment Penalty, Alleviate Burdens on Local Pharmacies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Jerry Moran this week continued his efforts to address the problems within the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit. Today, Moran sponsored legislation to waive the penalty fee for seniors enrolling after the May 15 deadline. Moran also recently introduced legislation to help local pharmacies navigate the complex drug program.

"I have been concerned with the drug benefit since it was first introduced," Moran said. "These are two necessary steps Congress must take to lessen the negative effects this program has had on Kansas seniors and local pharmacists."

Those seniors who missed the May 15 enrollment deadline now face a permanent penalty fee and are unable to sign up for a program until November. This legislation will eliminate the late enrollment penalty for the remainder of 2006. In addition to the confusion surrounding the Part D program, pharmacists have not been receiving payments in a timely manner and have reported losses on filling many reimbursed prescriptions. H.R. 5182, the Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Claims Act of 2006, makes sure that pharmacists are not forced out of business by the inadequate, slow and unclear claims process.

"Pharmacies should not have to bear the brunt of Medicare Part D, but the reality is that they are," Moran said in a recent speech to the House of Representatives. "All across the United States, pharmacies are struggling to keep their doors open due to the changes the prescription drug plan has brought about."

Moran is a member of the steering committee of the House Rural Health Care Coalition.

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