[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 802 Engrossed in House (EH)]


H. Res. 802

                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                          May 11, 2006.
Whereas Medicare now offers a prescription drug benefit for its beneficiaries, 
        known as Medicare Part D;
Whereas more than 35,900,000 Medicare eligible individuals are receiving 
        prescription drug coverage, of which there are more than 27,000,000, 
        including a substantial number of low-income and minority beneficiaries, 
        receiving coverage through the new benefit;
Whereas 8,100,000 beneficiaries have enrolled in stand alone Medicare 
        prescription drug plans;
Whereas estimates indicate that the average beneficiary will save more than 
        $1,100 this year alone by enrolling in a Medicare prescription drug 
        plan;
Whereas the average monthly premium for enrolling in a Medicare prescription 
        drug plan is now just $25 per month, which is far below the initial 
        estimate of $37 per month;
Whereas recent surveys of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare 
        prescription drug plans indicate that beneficiaries are satisfied with 
        their coverage;
Whereas advocacy groups including the AARP, National Alliance for Hispanic 
        Health, the National Medical Association, and the National Council on 
        Aging have all sponsored enrollment events designed to encourage 
        eligible beneficiaries to enroll in Medicare prescription drug plans;
Whereas Area Agencies on Aging, State Health Insurance Programs (SHIPs), and 
        other local and community organizations are available to provide seniors 
        with assistance and answer their questions about how to select the 
        Medicare prescription drug plan that best meets their needs;
Whereas pharmacists are on the front line in delivering prescriptions to 
        Medicare beneficiaries and continue to be instrumental in providing 
        valuable information and assistance about the new benefit;
Whereas in recent months Members of Congress have hosted hundreds of events and 
        the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of the 
        Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and other Administration 
        officials have sponsored thousands of outreach and enrollment events, to 
        educate seniors regarding the new prescription drug benefit;
Whereas the deadline for enrollment in the new prescription drug plan without 
        being subject to any late enrollment penalty is May 15, 2006; and
Whereas editorial writers and opinion leaders across the nation have recognized 
        the importance of an enrollment deadline because it encourages 
        beneficiaries to make a decision about enrolling: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives encourages all Medicare 
beneficiaries who are not yet enrolled in Part D to review carefully all of the 
options that are available to them and to determine whether enrollment in a 
Medicare prescription drug plan best meets their current and future needs for 
prescription drug coverage.



            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.