Washington, D.C. – Representative Heath Shuler voted today to help seniors pay less for
the prescription drugs they need. H.R. 4, which passed the House of Representatives with
bi-partisan support, changes the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan to require the
Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower drug prices.
“This is a common sense bill that allows us to use the bargaining power of the 22 million
seniors enrolled in Plan D to lower drug prices,” said Rep. Shuler. “We have a moral
obligation to care for our senior citizens, and we are doing that by making prescription
drugs more affordable.”
This bill provides the HHS Secretary discretion in how to implement their negotiating
authority. Negotiation was used successfully in 2001 to obtain lower prices for Cipro, the
prescription drug used in response to the anthrax attacks. The bill also requires the
Secretary to submit a report on the negotiations by June 1, 2007, and every six months
thereafter.
“Our states and the Veteran’s Administration have shown that we can successfully
negotiate lower drug prices. It’s time to put the power of negotiation to work for all
American seniors,” Shuler concluded.
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Download: Congressman Heath Shuler Votes to Help Seniors get Lower Prescription Drug Prices