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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:
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Undermines
the future of Medicare.
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Prohibits
Medicare from negotiating better prices.
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Blocks
reimportation of American manufactured pharmaceuticals from other countries
at lower costs.
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Causes
2-3 million retirees to be lose their superior employer based coverage
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Coerces
millions of seniors into HMOs by forcing those who wish to keep their doctor
and stay in Medicare to pay more.
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Forces
up to 6 million low-income seniors and persons with disabilities who qualify
for both Medicare and Medicaid to pay more for their prescription drugs.
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Contains
a $2800 gap in coverage that will leave half of seniors without drug coverage
for part of the year.
Schakowsky
was not surprised that the Bush Administration would support a bill that
will increase drug industry profits by $139 billion and pour billions into
for-profit Medicare HMOs, rewarding Republican campaign contributors at
the expense of Medicare beneficiaries.
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