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For Immediate Release
 
May 7, 2004
Green Criticizes Effectiveness of Discount Drug Cards
 
Senior Health Subcommittee Member
 Cites Increased Confusion and Questionable Benefits
 
Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston) spoke out against the Medicare prescription drug discount card for the questionable benefits and certain confusion that it will bring to America’s senior citizens. 
 
“This card was created from a flawed Medicare Prescription Drug bill, so our seniors’ inability to utilize this drug discount card is no surprise,” Rep. Green said.
 
In an attempt to help Medicare beneficiaries choose the best drug card, Medicare launched a website last week that compares drug prices, participating pharmacies and the availability of each card.  However, Green charged that the website only adds to seniors’ confusion about the benefit.
 
“With great fanfare Medicare released a website to provide seniors with the ability to compare the drug prices offered by the cards,” added Green. “The first problem with the Medicare website is that a large number of senior citizens don’t have Internet access or aren’t proficient.” 
 
“Yet even if our seniors are willing to go through all of the steps on the Medicare website, the information generated is too confusing to help our seniors make a truly informed choice regarding their discount drug card,” Green continued.
 
“The companies offering these cards are under no obligation to maintain their advertised prices or even carry the drugs that seniors need.  At the same time, Medicare beneficiaries are forced to stay with each card for at least one year. In the end, I’m afraid we’ll learn the hard way that this discount drug card is just as bad a deal as the Medicare Prescription Drug bill that created it,” Green concluded.
 
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