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On July 17, 2004, I delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Medicare ► Click Here for Full Text of Radio Address
(July 14, 2004) WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined House Democrats in launching a campaign to force the House Republican leadership to schedule a vote on H.R. 3767, the Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act of 2004.
Schakowsky, who is a leading sponsor of H.R. 3767, along with U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (D-AR) and Tom Allen (D-ME), said the bill would give Medicare the authority to use its bargaining power to negotiate for lower drug prices, passing on the savings to seniors and persons with disabilities.
“The Republican Medicare drug law signed by President Bush is a disaster for seniors and persons with disabilities. It does nothing to lower drug prices for seniors, but does plenty to protect drug company profits by prohibiting Medicare from negotiating for cheaper drugs,” said Schakowsky, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
SCHAKOWSKY TO SENATOR BOB DOLE:
(June 1, 2004) “It is interesting that someone who has most recently been a TV spokesman for the drug industry is now on a Pfizer-sponsored tour trying to sell a new product – the Medicare drug card. Senior citizens are too smart to believe Senator Bob Dole or buy a shoddy product when better ones are available..."
DURBIN, SCHAKOWSKY SAY MEDICARE DISCOUNT DRUG PROGRAM MEDICARE MATERIALS OVERSTATE NUMBER OF ILLINOISANS ELIGIBLE FOR DISCOUNT CARD ASSISTANCE BY MORE THAN 300,000
(May 19, 2004) WASHINGTON,
DC – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan
Schakowsky (D-IL) today sent a letter to Medicare Administrator Mark
McClellan calling on him to immediately take action to correct erroneous
and misleading information regarding the number of seniors eligible to
participate in the new Medicare Transitional Discount Card Transitional
Assistance Program. Durbin and Schakowsky said that the issue first came
to light because of large discrepancies between numbers provided by the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and those provided by the
Illinois Department of Public Aid (IDPA).
GAO DECLARES CRITICAL COMPONENT OF BUSH ADMINISTRATION PR CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE MEDICARE DRUG LAW PLAN VIOLATED THE LAW (May 19, 2004) WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the General Accounting Office (GAO) declared that taxpayer-funded Video News Releases (VNRs) promoting the Bush Administration’s view of the Medicare drug law violated the law, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today said that President Bush must take decisive action starting with issuing a refund to the Medicare Trust Fund. ►View: GAO Report - DHHS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services—Video News Releases
CHICAGO, IL – (May 3, 2004) On the first day that Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for a Medicare-approved private discount drug card, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) expressed concern that seniors and persons with disabilities could be making a decision to participate in this program without having all the facts. Schakowsky said seniors “should not drop their existing drug coverage for the discount card because it is not a prescription drug benefit under Medicare.”
►View: New Medicare Drug Cards Offer Few Discounts
►(May 3, 2004)
BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY –
►Learn More About the Medicare Drug Card
SERIES OF TOWN HALLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY PART OF FAMILIES USA MEDICARE ROAD SHOW
CHICAGO, IL - (Mar. 19, 2004) U.S. Representatives Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) met with local seniors at North Park Village today to discuss and assess the impact of the law on Chicago seniors. The Members of Congress also screened a Families USA video featuring former news anchor Walter Cronkite in which he discusses the pitfalls of the new Medicare law, such as the significant coverage gap, or “donut hole,” and the provision that prohibits Medicare from negotiating for lower drug prices.
►The
Medicare Road Show - A public awareness campaign to educate seniors about
the new Medicare
►How Much Will You Pay? Calculate Your Costs under the New Medicare Rx Drug Law.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – (Mar. 16, 2004) U.S.
Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined eight Congressional
Democrats in calling for an investigation into the latest Bush
Administration use of taxpayer dollars to promote the GOP Medicare law.
The members today released a letter to Health
and Human Services (HHS) Acting Principal Deputy Inspector General Dara
Corrigan expressing concern that “video news releases” distributed by HHS
to television stations across the nation “are clearly intended to
manipulate.”
Schakowsky, Berry, Allen Introduce Medicare Prescription Drug Savings Act WASHINGTON, D.C. – (Feb. 4, 2004) U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (D-AK), Tom Allen (D-ME) and others to introduce legislation that would lower prescription drug prices for seniors and persons with disabilities. ► Medicare Law Endangers SeniorCare (Jan. 8, 2004) ► Bush Acts to Reward Companies Who Cut Off Seniors' Drug aaaCoverage (Jan. 8, 2004) ► Health Care: Democrat vs. Republican Plan (Power Point Presentation - Opens in New Window)
SCHAKOWSKY: SENIORS READY (Dec. 8, 2003) “...Seniors are going to take to the streets to turn back the assault on their beloved Medicare by President Bush and the Republican Congress. As soon as seniors understand what’s in the bill, they are demanding a repeal.” BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY – MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL
(Dec. 8, 2003) The Center for American Progress released a report today titled “Claim v. Fact: Medicare Bill Signing.” For example:
President Bush said, "For the first time we are giving seniors peace of mind that they will not have to face unlimited expenses for their medicine." [George W. Bush 12/08/03]
However, according to the New York Times (12/7/03): "[The] Medicare drug plan could further limit coverage by establishing a list of preferred medicines known as a formulary... Medicare would not have to pay anything for drugs left off the list...if a beneficiary bought drugs not listed on the formulary, the bill says, those costs would not be counted toward the $3,600 limit."
BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY – PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL
(Dec. 3, 2003) In a USA Today letter to the editor, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Tom Scully, wrote:
“I believe this law is good because it will help every Medicare beneficiary.” (USA Today, December 2, 2003)
The federal official who runs Medicare and was intimately involved in drafting legislation to overhaul the program is the object of a bidding war among five firms hoping to hire him to advise clients affected by the measure...
Mr. Scully has made no secret of the fact that he has been looking for jobs outside the government for more than six months — even as he spent hundreds of hours in closed sessions with House and Senate negotiators working out countless details of the legislation, which makes the biggest changes in Medicare since creation of the program in 1965. WINNERS & LOSERS UNDER GOP MEDICARE DRUG BILL
(Nov. 24, 2003) On Saturday, November 22,
during his weekly radio address, President Bush said: However, the President neglected to mention that the GOP bill would dismantle Medicare. The President also failed to tell the millions of listeners that the losers under this bill are the:
• More than 6 million seniors and persons with disabilities would pay more their for prescriptions.
• 2.7 million retirees would lose their superior prescription drug coverage.
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson today spoke at the National Press Club. United Press International Reported that Thompson stated that the legislation “is a good first step that will help millions of low-income seniors pay for drugs…”
Schakowsky said, “Nearly 10 million Medicare beneficiaries will actually be worse off under the bill, either paying more for their health care or being dropped by their employers from a superior drug.”
The Republican bill:
169,500 Medicaid beneficiaries in Illinois will pay more for the prescription drugs they need. (Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Minority Staff) SCHAKOWSKY APPLAUDS EFFORTS AGAINST SHAM DRUG BILL
(Nov. 19, 2003) “We have fought many battles together to preserve Medicare, and won! And we will do it again. Seniors in Illinois and across the country are already mobilizing against this sham Republican prescription bill and President Bush’s plan that destroys the essence of Medicare while enriching the pharmaceutical companies and HMOs." (Read Schakowsky's Full Statement)
► Read Report: National and State Impacts of the Medicare Rx Drug Conference Proposal (A Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Minority Staff Analysis)
(Nov. 18, 2003) WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) applauded organizations representing seniors, women, persons with disabilities and retirees for publicly opposing the Republican/pharmaceutical industry prescription drug bill. The Republican bill will give drug companies more than $130 billion and seniors a plan that will undermine the future of Medicare, do little to reduce the price of drugs, and cost millions of senior more than they pay now for prescriptions. Below are statements from some of the organizations opposed to the bill:
►Document: Bad Deal for Seniors, Bad Deal for Medicare, Sweet Deal for Big Drug Companies
(Nov. 17, 2003) WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today said seniors and persons with disability want a comprehensive, voluntary and affordable prescription drug plan under Medicare, NOT the Republican prescription drug bill that:
SCHAKOWSKY: SHAME ON AARP’S NOVELLI FOR ENDORSING A SHAM MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL (Nov. 17, 2003) CHICAGO, IL – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said “shame” on William Novelli, Executive Director of AARP, for endorsing a sham bill that would give drug companies more than $130 billion and seniors a plan that will undermine the future of Medicare, do little to reduce the price of drugs, and cost millions of senior more than they pay now for prescriptions. AARP’s Novelli wrote to Congress in July that his organization is prepared to “oppose” final Medicare prescription drug legislation if it contains means testing, privatization and a large coverage gap. Yet today, he endorsed a bill that fails to meet the principles he spelled out in his letter to Congress four months ago. The endorsement was made before the bill was written. ►Read: Schakowsky's Letter to William Novelli
BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY – (Nov. 17, 2003)
President Bush, referring to the prescription drug conference report said:
However, a picture is worth a thousand words. (Click link to view
photo in new window.) Last week, seniors did not attend an event in
phoenix with Bush Administration officials to listen to President Bush's
address calling on Congress to pass the legislation.
►Document:
Bad Deal for Seniors, Bad Deal for Medicare, Sweet Deal for Big Drug Companies
BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY –
(Nov. 14, 2003)
During several speeches where he addressed the issue of prescription drug
coverage for seniors, President Bush said that seniors should get the same
coverage as members of Congress and federal employees:
However, a member of Congress with a monthly $525 drug bill would have an annual $1575 out-of-pocket expense. On the other hand, a Medicare beneficiary with the same monthly drug cost would have a yearly $3662.75 out-of-pocket expense under the compromised drug bill.
Schakowsky said, “It doesn’t make it true, even if the President says it. President Bush is not fooling seniors into believing that they are about to receive the same drug coverage as members of Congress and federal employees, no matter how many times he repeats it. Seniors want a voluntary, affordable and comprehensive prescription drug plan under Medicare that does not force seniors into HMOs and risk the future of the program itself.” ►Document: Bad Deal for Seniors, Bad Deal for Medicare, Sweet Deal for Big Drug Companies
SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY – MEDICARE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
(Nov. 13, 2003) During a meeting with seniors in
Orlando, Florida to discuss Medicare and prescription drugs, President Bush
said: Reports, however, about the emerging prescription drug bill from the conference committee negotiating the final proposal show that this is a “bad deal for seniors, a bad deal for Medicare and a sweetheart deal for drug companies. Up to 10 million seniors could lose their choice of doctor because they would be pushed into a Medicare HMO,” Schakowsky said.
►Document: Bad Deal for Seniors, Bad Deal for Medicare, Sweet Deal for Big Drug Companies
►Article:
11/14/2003
BUSH ADMINISTRATION’S MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY –
(Oct. 30, 2003) During a speech at the White House
on prescription drugs, President Bush said:
(Oct. 27, 2003) Secretary Tommy Thompson wrote today in an op-ed in the Saint Paul Pioneer Press:
"Both bills would provide all seniors with access to prescription drugs. And both would provide substantial prescription drug savings for seniors."
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.
SCHAKOWSKY: REPUBLICAN MEDICARE DRUG BILL IS PRESCRIPTION FOR DISASTER
(Oct. 22, 2003) According to the study, “Paying More for Less,” under the
already-passed Republican House and Senate prescription drug bills,
Medicare beneficiaries would have to pay MORE for their prescription
drugs, home health care, lab tests, and doctors’ visits.
Specifically, the study found that:
►Report: Paying More for Less - The Number of Medicare Beneficiaries Who Will See Higher Drug and Health Care Costs Under Proposed Medicare Reforms (National and State Data)
(Oct. 15, 2003) SCHAKOWSKY CONTINUES FIGHT TO ENSURE SENIORS DO NOT LOSE THEIR EMPLOYER RETIREE COVERAGE SCHAKOWSKY: REPUBLICAN MEDICARE DRUG BILL IS PRESCRIPTION FOR DISASTER (Oct. 14, 2003) According to report, under the Republican prescription drug proposals passed by the House and the Senate:
(Click for Full Statement & Additional Information) ►Report: The Medicare Bait and Switch: The Impact of Medicare Reforms Illinois Data - September 2003 (Opens in New Window) New Commonwealth Fund Report: Costs Doubled for Medicare+Choice Enrollees over Past 4 Years ► REPORT ON MEDICARE LEGISLATION RAISES CONCERN ON COSTS (Aug.11, 2003) - A report to be released today raises questions about the ability of private health plans to protect the elderly from the high costs of medical care under Medicare legislation proposed by Congress. (Continue to Article)
Read
the Report Ray and Gay Lee Anderson from Illinois will figure whether this bill will help them with their combined $12,000 yearly drug bill. They will calculate that, if their premium is $35 a month per person, (it could, of course, be higher), they will pay $840 in premiums. They will get a little help and then each of them will face that enormous donut hole – that gap in coverage into which 1 in 3 seniors will fall. They’ll still end up paying $7840 for their drugs. That’s $3,840 more than the $4,000 family stop loss many of us in Congress have under the Federal Employees Health Benefit plan. Fortunately for Ray and Gay Lee, they don’t earn enough to be mean’s tested. If they did, they’d be stuck with another $1700 in drug bills.WARNING – House Republicans Pass Medicare Death Bill SCHAKOWSKY: Republican MEDICARE Bill is A Lousy Deal For Seniors. It Just Plain Stinks. WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 26, 2003) – Joined by a special guest during a news conference today, Stinky the Skunk, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) said that the Republican Medicare bill is “a lousy deal for seniors. It just plain stinks.” (continue) Article: 07/18/2003 Article: 07/17/2003 Article: 06/27/2003 Table: 06/25/2003The Terrifying Truth About the Republican Prescription Drug BillWASHINGTON, D.C. – At a rally today on Capitol Hill, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Congressional Democrats joined hundreds of seniors who blew the whistle on the Republican plan to kill Medicare...(continue) The Terrifying Truth About the Republican Prescription Drug Bill WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 17th, 2003) – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today said that seniors will oppose any Republican schemes to privatize Medicare that will place them at the mercy of insurance and drug companies...(continue) Article: 06/19/2003 Article: 06/19/2003 Schakowsky: No Real Benefit for Seniors Under President Bush's Rx Proposal WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 12th, 2003) -- Last week, President Bush announced his prescription drug proposal for Medicare beneficiaries. Rather than using this opportunity to promote a quality drug benefit that would be dependable and guaranteed for seniors and persons with disabilities on Medicare, the President instead announced his intention to provide a financial benefit to pharmaceutical and insurance companies. By pushing seniors into HMOs – the path to Medicare privatization – and doing nothing to lower drug prices, the Bush policy would enrich industry instead of reducing the financial burden on beneficiaries...(continue) Schakowsky: Prescription Drugs for Seniors, Not Tax Breaks for Millionaires WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 5th, 2003) – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) participated at a news conference today to dispel the myth that President Bush’s latest tax cut proposals, including the elimination of the dividend tax, would benefit seniors. Schakowsky said that the $700 billion in proposed tax cuts for the wealthy by Bush could go a long way toward providing seniors a prescription drug benefit under Medicare instead...(continue)
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Recent Articles:
►Article:
5/4/2004 Chicago Tribune
►Transcript:
5/3/2004
►Article:
5/3/2004
►Article:
5/3/2004 AP
►Article:
3/16/2004 Roll Call
►Article:
3/11/2004 Chicago Tribune
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03/08/2004 Chicago Tribune
►Article:
12/11/2003 AP
►Interview:
12/08/2003
►Article:
11/30/2003
►Article:
11/26/2003 Associated Press
►Article:
11/23/2003 The New York Times
►Article:
11/23/2003
►Article:
11/23/2003
►Article:
11/21/2003 Reuters
►(Nov. 14, 2003) Read Letter: to AARP CEO William Novelli (Opens in New Window) - Schakowsky to AARP CEO Novelli: I am “deeply disappointed and troubled by AARP’s apparent endorsement (even if conditional) of a House-Senate conference “agreement” that has not been finalized, yet alone drafted, and that is likely to threaten the very essence of Medicare.”
►Article:
11/11/2003 Copley News Service
The President's Drug Plan: The Wrong Prescription for Seniors The link above leads to the following documents: - One-pager on Dem Rx Drug Plan - Bush Administration's Damaging Rx Drug Plan vs. Dems Real Medicare Rx Drug Benefit - The President's Drug Plan: The Wrong Prescription for Seniors - Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: President Bush v. Democratic Proposal - Rx Drug Proposals: Medicare Beneficiaries Pay More than Twice as Much as Republican Plans - Three-Page Document: Medicare Rx Drug Benefit and Discount Act of 2003 - Kaiser Family Foundation Fact Sheet: Medicare and Prescription Drugs - Consumer Access Provisions
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