FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Tuesday, May 9, 2006
CONTACT: Yoni Cohen, (202) 225-3202

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today sent the following letter to his Democratic colleagues in anticipation of a Republican resolution on the Medicare prescription drug program:

May 9, 2006

Dear Democratic Colleague:

It is my understanding that the House Republican Leadership plans to bring forth a resolution under suspension on Wednesday regarding the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

The resolution resolves that, “the House of Representatives encourages all Medicare beneficiaries who are not yet enrolled in Part D to review carefully all of the options that are available to them and determine whether enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug plan best meets their current and future needs for prescription drug coverage.”

If it were only that easy.

As we’ve all seen in our communities, in the press, and from our family members, the drug program has been horribly confusing to America’s seniors and people with disabilities.

Just last week, the Government Accountability Office released a stunning report showing the extreme failures of the Centers on Medicare and Medicaid Services with respect to providing accessible, appropriate, accurate information about the new drug program via their 1-800 Medicare line, on their website, and in written materials mailed to beneficiaries.

CMS has conducted its own evaluation of the private plans’ call centers. We’ve asked for that information so people will be able to compare plans based on their ability to provide accurate and timely information – which we all know is very important. But, CMS will not release this data to Congress or the public.

So, tomorrow in the US Congress we are going to pass what is a meaningless resolution only days from the expiration of the May 15th enrollment deadline.

Instead of meaningless platitudes, we should be working on a bipartisan basis to pass a suspension bill to delay the May 15th enrollment deadline and the corresponding late enrollment penalty through the end of the year.

Passing that legislation would increase enrollment in the Medicare Part D program by at least an extra one million seniors and people with disabilities – according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. And, were such legislation to pass, more than 7 million seniors would be saved from a lifetime of higher monthly premiums.

Instead, Republican leaders again profess to care -- without providing the means necessary for people to get what they need to make informed choices.

Sincerely,

Pete Stark