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WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued today’s “Bush Administration’s
Misstatement of the Day” on prescription drug coverage for seniors and
persons with disabilities.
Secretary
Tommy Thompson wrote today in an op-ed in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press:
Legislation
has passed both the House and Senate and, while there are substantial differences
to be reconciled, the bills have much in common on the big issues. Both
bills would provide all seniors with access to prescription drugs. And
both would provide substantial prescription drug savings for seniors.
Schakowsky
said, “It is not true and Secretary Thompson should know better than to
make wild claims. Millions of seniors and persons with disabilities
would pay more under the Republican plans.”
According
to “Paying More for Less,” a study released by US Action, under the already-passed
Republican House and Senate prescription drug bills, millions of Medicare
beneficiaries would have to pay MORE for their prescription drugs, home
health care, lab tests, and doctors’ visits.
Specifically,
the study found that:
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Between
11.1 and 13.4 million Medicare beneficiaries would pay MORE for prescription
drugs than they do today.
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32.5
million Medicare beneficiaries would pay more to see their doctor.
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Between
3.9 and 4.5 million retirees who now have prescription drug coverage would
lose it.
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5.8
million low-income seniors and people with disabilities could face higher
drug costs.
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Lab
visits and home health care services would cost Medicare beneficiaries
$20.7 billion.
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