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| Wilson Welcomes Senate Passage of Historic |
November 25, 2003 |
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| Washington, DC — Congresswoman Heather Wilson welcomed today’s Senate approval of the voluntary prescription drug plan for seniors. The Senate vote of 54-44 sends the bill to the President’s desk for signature, and follows the lead of the House, which approved the plan 220-215 early Saturday.
“I welcome the speedy passage of this legislation so that New Mexico seniors can get help buying prescriptions,” said Wilson, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that worked extensively on the legislation. “This historic plan helps low-income seniors have access to medicine.”
The legislation guarantees access to prescription drugs for 250,000 New Mexico seniors and 40 million Medicare recipients nationwide beginning in 2006. The plan is projected to save seniors an average of 50 percent on their prescriptions.
“Adding a voluntary prescription drug plan improves on the service that Medicare has provided America’s seniors for 40 years,” said Wilson, “Over the past 40 years, health needs have changed to include more preventive medicines, and this new coverage helps keeps pace with advances in health care.”
“Seniors need a prescription drug plan now. It’s time. Prescriptions are very expensive, and this plan makes a difference for seniors and especially for people with lower or fixed incomes,” Wilson said.
The bill was supported by the AARP, the Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and other seniors and health associations.
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