Milwaukee, WI -- U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today celebrated the memory
of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at the Clinton Rose Senior Center on the
anniversary of the civil rights leader’s birthday, and emphasized his
support for lower prescription drug costs for seniors.
"Though Dr. King was lost to us more than 30 years ago, his legacy
refuses to fade with the passing of the years," Feingold said. "Today more
than ever we must rise to the challenge that Dr. King issued to the nation
in his words and deeds – to strive for the unity he sought by working to
bind up the divisions created by bias and prejudice."
Feingold also addressed a problem plaguing many of Wisconsin’s seniors:
the high cost of prescription drugs. Feingold is an original cosponsor of
The Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act, which would allow all
pharmacies that serve seniors to purchase prescription drugs at the
same discounted rates granted to pharmaceutical companies’ bigger
customers. Many community pharmacies that serve Wisconsin seniors pay
higher prices for prescription medication than pharmaceutical companies’
favored customers, such as hospitals. Those higher prices are then passed
on to seniors. The Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act would extend
those discounted prices to all pharmacies serving Medicare beneficiaries.
Feingold noted that high drug costs are especially tough for seniors
because they are not covered under Medicare, leaving the majority of
Wisconsin seniors with little access to affordable prescription
medication.
"The absence of prescription drug coverage in Medicare means staggering
out-of-pocket expenses for Wisconsin seniors," Feingold said. "The
Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act could make a big difference for
seniors who are struggling to cover these costs."
Feingold's 13th Listening Session of 2000, and the
517th since he was first elected in 1992, was held at the
Clinton Rose Senior Center at 9:15 a.m. Feingold’s 14th session
of the year, and 518th since he was first elected,
was held at Oconomowoc High School beginning at 1:30
p.m.
