Washington, DC –(Monday, December 3, 2012) –  Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson released the following statement on the announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concerning prescription drugs savings made possible by the Affordable Care Act:

“Today, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that America’s seniors have saved more than $5.1 billion on prescription drugs since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act.  In Texas alone, 158,000 Medicare recipients have saved over $300 million by closing the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the “donut hole.”  Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, Medicare recipients will continue to see these savings on prescription drugs until 2020, when the donut hole coverage gap will close.

As the only North Texas legislator to vote for this historic healthcare reform bill, I am pleased to see so many Texans taking advantage of its many benefits.  More than 1.62 million Texans have also utilized free access to preventive services.   As the American people see increased savings and access to care, the Affordable Care Act is more popular than ever before.”

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Turtle Creek, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.