Washington, DC - Congressman Gene Green participated in a press conference today on the steps of the U.S. Capitol where Democrats unveiled a new Medicare prescription drug proposal.  Rep. Green released the following statement:

 

“It is time for Congress to stop neglecting our seniors and provide a meaningful prescription drug benefit that prevents seniors from having to choose between medicine, food and other necessities.  Our bill will enroll more seniors and provide real assistance.

 

“Medicare beneficiaries -- seniors and people with disabilities -- are the heaviest users of prescription drugs, yet there is no outpatient drug benefit in Medicare to help them pay for the prescriptions they need.  At the same time that millions lack drug coverage, drug prices are rising well above the rate of inflation. Ever rising drug prices hit the millions who lack drug coverage -- particularly Medicare beneficiaries -- the hardest.

“Under the Democratic plan, seniors won’t have to join an HMO to get drug coverage, nor will they be forced to join a private insurance plan that restricts access to needed drugs or denies coverage for the medicine their doctors prescribe.

 

“Our Republican friends have a plan that covers less than a quarter of the estimated drug costs of Medicare beneficiaries over the next ten years.  And it pays nothing for drug costs between $2,000 and $5,600, while almost half of all seniors have costs that exceed $2,000 annually.

 

“It is time for Congress to add prescription drug coverage to Medicare.  Prescription drugs are an essential and vital component of quality health care. A prescription drug benefit through Medicare is the best way to help seniors get the medicine that they need.  It will use the power of Medicare’s 40 million consumers to negotiate better prices from the drug companies which will make drugs more affordable and reduce the cost of the program.”

 

 

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