Pryce: Passing the Medicare prescription drug plan was the right thing to do  

Washington, D.C.  --   Congresswoman Deborah Pryce delivered a speech tonight on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to speak out in support of the new prescription Medicare law. 

Video and audio of the speech can be found at this link: http://recap.fednet.net/archive/Buildasx.asp?sProxy=80_
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00:04:34.0&eTime=00:15:03.0&duration=00:15:30.0&
User Name=gail.gitcho@mail.house.gov"><IMG 

Click here for text of speech

Within the context of the speech Pryce made the following remarks:

“I come to the floor to speak on behalf of Ohio’s seniors, America’s seniors.”

“The 14 million low income seniors, 438,000 of them in Ohio alone, will now be receiving their medications for a mere two to five dollars.  They understand that this law is a step in the right direction.” 

“This law is not 100 percent, but it’s 100 percent better than what seniors had before which was nothing.  Unfortunately, there are some who do not share this same
mindset.  Indeed, they are a small group of obstructionists who seek to mislead seniors about this new law instead of inform.  Their goal is to scare instead of educate.” 

“Mr. Speaker, I want Ohio’s seniors to know how this new law does help them.  I want be a part of that productive group—that group that knows progress comes in incremental steps and understands obstructing and thwarting accomplishes
nothing.”

On December 8, 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act was signed into law.  This June, the new law will give every Medicare beneficiary in Ohio the option to see immediate savings through a prescription drug discount card – a swipe card – that they can use at their local pharmacies.  The average senior can expect to see a savings of approximately $300 from their drug bills in the first year.  Seniors who earn less than $12,000 annually will be given $600 of free prescription drugs each year by using their swipe cards.  Low-income seniors can expect to pay nearly nothing for their medicines – zero or a very low deductible, premium or co-pay. 

This card can be used until 2006, when a new, comprehensive prescription drug benefit becomes available.  At this time, every senior in Ohio will have the option to enroll in this new prescription drug benefit through Medicare.  For $35 a month, and after meeting a $250 yearly deductible, Medicare will pay 75 percent of prescription costs up to $2, 250.  After a senior has spent $3,600 a year, Medicare will pay 95 percent of all their drug costs.  More than 438,000 of Ohio’s neediest seniors can expect to pay almost nothing for their medicines – at the most $2 for generic and $5 for name-brand prescription co-pays. 

It is important to note that the discount card and the prescription drug benefit are voluntary.  No senior will be forced to enroll in the new plan.

Pryce recently held two educational Medicare workshops for her constituents in the 15^th District, Ohio.  For more information on the new Medicare law, seniors are asked to visit Medicare’s website at www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Congresswoman Pryce represents the Fifteenth District of Ohio, which includes Western Franklin County, Madison, and Union Counties.  She serves as Chairman of the House Republican Conference for the 108th Congress, making her the fourth ranking member of House leadership.  The Congresswoman also co-chairs the Cancer Caucus.