June 10, 2010
Starting to close the donut hole for Virginia's seniors
Beginning today, nearly 91,500 Virginia seniors will begin receiving $250 checks to help with their prescription drug costs.
Seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D whose prescription drug costs in 2010 will total more than $2,830 but less than $6,440 are eligible to receive the rebates — a result of the new health care law.
The rebate checks address the so-called “donut hole” -- the gap in coverage that requires certain seniors to pay 100 percent for their prescription medication.
Starting next year, these same Medicare beneficiaries will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs and biologics purchased when they are in the coverage gap. The coverage in the gap will increase until 2020, when the “donut hole” will be completely filled in.
The $250 rebate check is tax-free and seniors do not need to do anything to receive it; Medicare will automatically mail a check when the beneficiary reaches the “donut hole.” Seniors should expect their check in the mail within 45 days or less of hitting the coverage gap.
06/02/10 -
Colombia's fight against the drug trade
Senator Warner met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Bogota on Tuesday, the first day of his week-long trip that also will include visits to the South American countries of Ecuador and Peru.
06/04/10 -
Meeting with the President of Peru
Senator Warner met today with President Alan Garcia of Peru as part of a weeklong trip that also included stops in Colombia and Ecuador. Senator Warner is traveling with Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd.
06/08/10 -
Promoting innovators and start-ups
Senator Warner spoke by video link from Washington today to a conference on entrepreneurship and business innovation hosted by the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce.
06/09/10 -
Predicting U.S. win over England in World Cup
At a meeting on Capitol Hill today on global financial regulation, Senator Warner joked with Britain's U.S. Ambassador, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, about this weekend's much-anticipated U.S. v. England World Cup Soccer match.
06/10/10 -
Pushing for customer service improvements at TSA
Senator Warner questioned Transportation Security Administration nominee John Pistole today about complaints he’s heard from several Virginia constituents about staffing levels and TSA employee attitudes while handling security screening at the nation’s airports.
06/10/10 -
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06/10/10 -
Current record
06/10/10 -
Murkowski Amendment
Senator Warner voted against Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s proposal to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of the authority to regulate air pollution and health standards under the Clean Air Act.
06/11/10 -
06/16/10 -
BP should pay every dime of the cost
Fifty-six days after BP’s oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico began, the oil giant has agreed to set-aside $20 billion in an escrow fund to pay damage claims and clean-up costs.
06/16/10 -
06/21/10 -
A plan to help small businesses recover
Senator Warner hosted a roundtable discussion with small business owners and bankers on Friday at Richmond's Consolidated Bank & Trust to discuss his specific ideas to help small businesses get access to credit.
06/22/10 -
06/24/10 -
Working to find solutions for Arlington National Cemetery
Following a briefing by U.S. Army officials, Senator Warner pledged to work to help correct many of the systemic mismanagement issues at Virginia's Arlington National Cemetery, including its failure to incorporate modern information technology.
06/25/10 -
Supporting FCC's efforts to protect consumer Internet access
Senator Warner sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski yesterday asking the FCC to collaborate with Internet service providers and content providers to maintain reasonable consumer access to high-value Internet content.
06/28/10 -
Sen. Robert Byrd
Senator Warner released this statement today, following the death of his colleague, West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd.
06/28/10 -
Calling on America's businesses to engage in public service
Senator Warner called on America's business leaders to strengthen their commitment to community service today in a speech at the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the world’s largest annual gathering of service and volunteer leaders, in New York City.
06/30/10 -