"From day one in office, I have made prescription drug coverage for seniors a personal priority and have fought hard to steer Congress in the same direction.  That is why I am pleased to be a lead sponsor of a plan which my fellow House Democrats and I unveiled on Thursday -- a prescription drug benefit plan that will finally modernize Medicare to include a meaningful prescription drug benefit for all seniors. 

"It is wrong that the highest profiting industry in America, the big drug manufacturers, is one that relies on customers with some of the lowest incomes, our senior citizens.  As a small town family pharmacy owner, I have literally seen senior citizens who cannot afford the medicines they need, and I have seen them end up at the doctor’s office or the hospital, or even require a needless surgery as a result. On many occasions, it is a senior trying to squeeze their $400 worth of monthly medicine out of a $600 monthly Social Security check.  Sometimes, it is even worse than that. 

"This plan will help to make it work for them.  This plan will help our seniors overcome the price barrier keeping them from better health.  Under this new plan, Medicare will cover 80 percent of the cost of medicine, in exchange for a low monthly premium of $25, and a low annual deductible of $100.

"Our health care system spends roughly $170 billion every year on needless hospital and doctor visits because of people experiencing adverse drug effects often from not being able to afford their medicine or not being able to afford to take it properly.  Enacting a meaningful prescription drug benefit under Medicare will not only provide real savings for seniors, but it will cut many of these needless hospital, doctor visits, and surgeries that cost Medicare billions of dollars each year. 

"As a fiscal conservative, I believe we must be responsible in handling our nation’s budget.  But there are times when our government needs to step up to the plate and spend the money necessary to solve a problem and solve it right.  This is one of those times.  It is time that we held the big drug manufacturers accountable.  It is time that Congress united to provide meaningful prescription drug coverage for all seniors.  That is what our bill is all about."

(WASHINGTON, DC)  U.S. Representative Mike Ross (AR-4) Thursday joined House Democrats in unveiling their plan to provide a comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefit that is “affordable and dependable for all seniors with no gaps or gimmicks in coverage.”  Because of Ross’s experience as the only pharmacy owner in the United States Congress, he has been tapped as one of four lead sponsors of the Democratic proposal, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and Discount Act.

In January, Ross introduced the Medicare Drug and Service Coverage Act (HR 3626), designed to provide a voluntary, but guaranteed, Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit for all seniors.  The Democrats in their plan have incorporated a number of provisions similar to Ross’s bill that make medicine affordable for all seniors and that take on the big drug manufacturers.

Ross stated, “From day one in office, I have made prescription drug coverage for seniors a personal priority and have fought hard to steer Congress in the same direction.  The plan that the Democrats have put forth, like the legislation I introduced earlier this year, will finally modernize Medicare to include a meaningful prescription drug benefit for all seniors.

“The big drug manufacturers were listed as the most profitable industry in the nation last year.  It is wrong that the highest profiting industry in America is one that relies on customers with some of the lowest incomes, our senior citizens.  Senior citizens account for 42 cents of every dollar spent on prescription drugs in the United States.  Our seniors simply can’t afford the high costs of prescription drugs. 

“As a small town family pharmacy owner, I have literally seen senior citizens who cannot afford the medicines they need.  On many occasions, it’s a senior trying to squeeze their $400 worth of monthly medicine out of a $600 monthly Social Security check.  Unfortunately, it usually doesn’t work, and often they may end up at the doctor’s office or the hospital as a result. 

“Our health care system spends roughly $170 billion dollars every year on needless hospital and doctor visits because of people experiencing adverse drug effects often from not being able to afford their medicine or afford to take it properly.  Enacting a meaningful prescription drug benefit under Medicare will not only provide real savings for seniors, but it will cut many of these needless hospital and doctor visits that cost Medicare billions of dollars each year. 

“As a fiscal conservative, I believe we must be responsible in handling our nation’s budget.  But there are times when our government needs to step up to the plate and spend the money necessary to solve a problem and solve it right.  This is one of those times.  It’s time that we held the big drug manufacturers accountable.  It’s time that Congress united to provide meaningful prescription drug coverage for all seniors.  That is what our bill is all about.” 

Like Ross’s earlier bill, the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and Discount Act calls for a 20 percent co-payment from beneficiaries for their medicines, with Medicare covering the remaining 80 percent.  It gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to use Medicare’s collective bargaining power to negotiate rebates and lower prices from drug manufacturers.  It allows for the implementation of other measures to reduce costs such as encouraging the use of generic drugs and providing medicine management services to ensure that seniors are taking their medicines properly.  And it gives seniors the freedom to choose their medicines and their hometown pharmacy.

Other important provisions highlighted in the Democratic plan include a $25 dollar monthly premium, a low $100 annual deductible, a $2000 maximum out-of-pocket limit per beneficiary per year (Medicare would pay 100 percent of the costs beyond that amount), and no premium or co-pay for low-income seniors up to 150 percent of the poverty level.

Co-sponsors of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and Discount Act are Ross; Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee; Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee; and Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA).

“The Boys & Girls Club provides constructive activities for our young people, especially those at a vulnerable age, helping build character and positive relationships in their lives,” Ross said.  “This funding will allow the El Dorado Boys & Girl Club to offer more important support programs to help at-risk youth develop into healthy and responsible adults.  I am very pleased to see this appropriation make its way to El Dorado.”

Studies show that teens are most vulnerable to either committing or being a victim of crime between 2:30pm and 8:30pm.  That is where the Boys & Girls Club often steps in, providing important outlets to draw children away from negative behavior.  Such outlets include:  high availability of family resources and support services; opportunities for athletic, recreation, education, and leadership development; gang prevention; youth participation and involvement; problem solving; conflict resolution; a positive image of education; a drug free lifestyle; and the high availability of positive role models.

In November 1999, the Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado opened their Southeast Unit located in a public housing project that houses more than 400 youth, an area of high gang activity.  In the two and a half years since the Club began operation, more than 280 youth have become members, with more than 60 of those participating daily in Boys & Girls Club programs.  The Club employs one full time staff member, four part-time, and a network of volunteers. 

Through the new funding, the Southeast Unit will offer daily classes, available to all youth who participate in Club activities, aimed at supporting character development.  These classes will teach peer refusal, role play, conflict resolution, anger management, violence prevention, healthy behaviors, educational enhancement, gang prevention, and behavior modification.