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INTERVIEW
WITH TOMMY THOMPSON, JAN SCHAKOWSKY
Transcript –
Fox News
May
3, 2004
TERRY KEENAN,
GUEST HOST: "FOX on Top" of drugs on the cheap. Today marks the first day that
seniors can sign up for those discount drug cards. Joining me now, Health and
Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Mr. Secretary, welcome. Nice to have you with us.
TOMMY THOMPSON, HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES SECY.: Thank you very much, Terry.
KEENAN: Well, it's just day one, any idea though what the response has been so
far?
THOMPSON: The response has been overwhelming. We've had thousands and thousands
of cases in which people have called in, and we feel that it is just going to
get even better in the future. We expect right now that branded drugs will be
down about 17 percent and generic drugs will be anywhere from 25 to 35 percent
down.
KEENAN: At last count I think there were some 73 different card plans available.
THOMPSON: Yes.
KEENAN: That is complicated. And how can seniors figure out what is the best
card for them?
THOMPSON: All they have to do is call up 1-800-Medicare. We have 1400 operators
and receptionists who are waiting for those calls. We ll be able to give them
up-to-date information and be able to tell them which is the best card for them,
which gives them the best price and we will continue to do that. We have a Web
page that has all this information on, plus we are also going to have individual
experts in the community of all the seniors to be able to give them information
at the senior centers, we give them assistance, give them information, and help
them enroll.
KEENAN: Seventeen percent, a pretty good discount, but you know what the critics
say, they say, I can get it cheaper in Canada for most of these drugs. And in
fact even online, some Web sites like Drugstore.com often offer drugs at similar
discounts. What do you say to those critics?
THOMPSON: We have a lot of drug cards that do nothing but online and on the Web
sites. And we feel when we can make the comparisons that those drug cards that
sell online through Medicare have lower prices. We made the comparisons, when
you compare apples with apples, drug card to drug card, online, ours are still
relatively cheaper.
KEENAN: And what about compared to Canadian drugs?
THOMPSON: Well, we can t certify that the Canadian drugs or any drugs coming in
from -- into the United States from outside are safe. We know, therefore, we can
t make sure that they are going to be giving the recipients the kind of
treatment they want.
KEENAN: And of course, in most cases they are American drugs developed with our
American research dollars that are making this round trip back to the States.
You know, some people are also concerned that seniors might think that these
cards replace their insurance cards if they have private insurance. That is not
the case, is that correct?
THOMPSON: That is correct.
KEENAN: And so, people should not drop any sort of individual prescription care
insurance.
THOMPSON: No, they shouldn't. But these drug cards are going to be extremely
helpful, especially to low-income seniors because they re going to get a $ 600
credit this year and a $ 600 credit next year, plus, those drug companies have
indicated to us that once those $ 600 is used up that they will be able to give
those branded drugs free of charge to the low- income seniors. So it s a great
deal for those under 135 percent of poverty, Terry.
KEENAN: And as we look at the president there in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on his bus
tour through that swing state, just finally, Mr. Secretary, if you could give
seniors a little bit of information on the timetable, because this gets a little
complicated, you can t use these cards until June 1, is that correct?
THOMPSON: That is correct. And we are telling seniors to do the window-shopping,
make the comparisons because drug prices are continuing to go down and we expect
that they will continue to go down next week and the week after.
KEENAN: All right, thanks for joining us, we appreciate it. Good to have you
with us.
THOMPSON: Thank you, Terry.
KEENAN: Secretary Tommy Thompson.
Well, now for the other side of this equation, our next guest says that these
prescription drug cards do little to help our seniors. Joining me now from our
Chicago bureau is Democratic congresswoman Jan
Schakowsky of Illinois.
And Congresswoman, nice have you with us as well. The way the secretary lays it
out, it sounds pretty good, 17 percent discount, 35 percent on generic drugs.
What is wrong with this?
REP. JAN SCHAKOWSKY (D), ILLINOIS:
Well, you raised a number of the concerns that I have. Actually if you look at
Canada and other countries, the prices are about 60 percent lower. If you go
online, as you pointed out, prices are about the same as with the discount card.
And the Veterans Administration, who negotiates for lower prices, you see deep
discounts there.
So, for many people, this is not going to be much of a help. I would recommend,
too, that seniors first look and see if their states have a plan. Illinois, for
example, has an Illinois Buyers Club that offers a much better card. Every drug
is covered.
What the secretary didn't mention is that not every drug is covered on every
card. And you are stuck with that card for a year. But the people that offer the
drug cards can change what is on the plan every week. They can change the
formula. They can say the drug you have this week isn't covered next week. So
you re stuck.
KEENAN: So lots of confusion in this plan. But you know, you mentioned the
negotiation that the Veterans Administration does for its prescription drug
plan, yet the Medicare bill specifically prohibits that type of negotiation. So
that -- Congress would have to fix that to get your way, is that correct?
SCHAKOWSKY: Well, that is
absolutely right. This is a provision that was really written by the
pharmaceutical industry to prohibit Medicare, on behalf of its 34 million
beneficiaries, to negotiate for lower prices, it is simply outrageous. And with
the inflation in drug prices every year, you re going see seniors very
disappointed in how much these cards really affect the cost of drugs for them.
KEENAN: Yes, but doesn't every little bit help? I mean, people carry around
cards that give them down at Starbucks or discount at their super market, it s
still double-digit percentage cuts here?
SCHAKOWSKY: That is if the drug is
covered, if the pharmacy will accept that card. But you were wise to point out
people should not drop their insurance policy. This is not an insurance benefit.
And if they have something that covers prescription drugs, don t get rid of it.
I think that this is barely scratching the surface. And maybe if people surf the
Internet they would find even deeper discounts. And if they are buying from
Canada, they can certainly get cheaper drugs.
KEENAN: Do you think e the numbers are eventually going to tell the story when
we learn how many seniors sign up for these cards?
SCHAKOWSKY: Well, I think even
those who sign up may find themselves to be pretty disappointed. They are going
to buy the card they think for one year, actually it s only going to be good
until January. Certainly, if they find out in the middle of the year that they
need a prescription and then that drug is not covered, when they go to pay for
it at the pharmacy, they re going to be, I think, pretty angry that this
discount card is not doing what it is supposed to do.
KEENAN: All right, thanks for giving us your perspective on it. We appreciate
it.
SCHAKOWSKY: Thank you. KEENAN:
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of
Illinois. |
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