| Volume 5, Issue 19, May 11, 2006 | ||
|
In November 2003, Congress passed sweeping legislation to create Medicare Part D, a voluntary prescription drug plan to provide coverage to 42 million elderly and disabled Americans who qualify for Medicare coverage. I did not support this legislation because I think that we can do better for our seniors. The bill contains language that actually states the Federal government shall be prohibited from negotiating with the big drug manufacturers to bring down the high cost of medicine. Many seniors will also experience a gap in coverage for necessary medications, referred to as the ‘donut hole,’ during which beneficiaries pay their monthly premium for the prescription drug program, while paying the full cost of their medications. All beneficiaries will face higher costs for late enrollment after May 15, 2006 Medicare recipients became eligible for the prescription drug coverage benefit on January 1, 2006 and deserve access to medications as promised. I am extremely disappointed that a number of problems have cropped up over the past four and half months and beneficiaries are being denied access to medications upon which their lives depend. By and large, many beneficiaries and their families have faced difficulty in obtaining accurate and timely information towards making a substantial decision that will impact their overall health and well-being. Last week the General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report highlighting the problems with the availability of accurate and understandable information. The report found that customer service representatives (CSRs) at 1-800-MEDICARE answered only 67 percent of the calls accurately and completely. Of the remainder, 18 percent of the calls received inaccurate responses, 8 percent of the responses were inappropriate given the question asked, and about 3 percent received incomplete responses. In light of this GAO report, I feel that it is Congress’s responsibility to extend the pending May 15, 2006 deadline for beneficiaries to enroll into a Medicare Part D plan until the end of the year. I don’t feel that we should force or penalize beneficiaries still reviewing these plans until the federal government corrects existing problems outlined in the GAO report. I am a cosponsor of the Medicare Informed Choice Act of 2005 (H.R. 3861), which would provide for an extended period of open enrollment during all of 2006 without a late enrollment penalty; give Medicare beneficiaries the opportunity to make a one-time change in prescription drug plan enrollment at any point in 2006; and provide protection from loss of employment-based retiree health coverage upon enrollment for Medicare prescription drug benefit during 2006. Decisions regarding access to life saving medications should not be limited or rushed, especially when current information is inadequate. I will continue to work to ensure that all beneficiaries have fair access to the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit. I welcome your comments and concerns on issues important to you. I encourage you to write to me at 314 Cannon House Office Building,
| ||
|
Ross Investigates Rising Gas Prices House Committee on Energy and Commerce Holds Hearings Over the past six weeks, “The increasing gas prices are hitting rural areas particularly hard. My district spans 21,000 square miles, 29 counties, and 150 towns. It is not uncommon for my constituents to drive 50 miles or more – each way to and from work. And in most cases they commute these distances for a job that pays well below the national average. Hard working Arkansans trying to do the right thing by working to put food on the table, to keep the lights on, and to provide for their families – are being devastated by these record gas prices. “I strongly support the continued development and use of ethanol and bio-diesel as a way to reduce the demand on costly fossil fuels. And, as we continue working to increase the use of bio-fuels, we must make the necessary investments to develop our nation’s infrastructure to support an increased use of ethanol and bio-diesel. “The reality is this: the energy bill, which I voted for, authorizes $100 million for grants to be used to develop bio-mass refineries, which would advance the use of alternative and renewable fuels for the entire 2007 fiscal year. This funding is authorized, but not yet appropriated. And yet we send $279 million per day to “As we develop alternative fuels and flex-fuel vehicles, our nation will continue to rely on fossil fuels as our primary source of energy. Therefore, I believe we must promote further exploration and development of domestic oil and gas production. I contend that addressing our nation’s energy crisis will take a multi-faceted approach consisting of increased domestic production, conservation, the use of alternative and renewable energy sources, utilizing energy efficient technologies, and end-user participation.” Witnesses at the hearings included the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), State regulators, industry representatives and consumer groups. The hearings focused on the transition from summer to winter fuel and boutique fuels which are State-enacted clean fuel specifications designed to limit motor vehicle emissions. Ross’s participation in today’s hearings is part of his continued commitment to respond to the high prices at the pump. ### | ||
|
1-800-223-2220 mike.ross@mail.house.gov or www.house.gov/ross |
 |
Newsletter List |  |