[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 6, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT EQUITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 6, 1997

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, last week, I introduced the Prescription 
Drug Benefit Equity Act--Federal legislation that would ensure that 
Americans are free to obtain their prescription drugs from a 
neighborhood pharmacy rather than through the mail.
  This bill will protect consumers' choice and help keep local 
pharmacists in business. It will put a stop to an emerging trend that 
has forced some individuals to obtain their medications through the 
mail.
  Mr. Speaker, some health coverage policies require patients to pay 
significantly more to use their local pharmacist. A few have eliminated 
that option altogether. That's not right.
  Hard-working Americans should not be forced to entrust their health 
to pharmacists working at a firm thousands of miles away. They deserve 
the right to continue seeing the neighborhood pharmacists they've grown 
to trust.
  While most plans do not require beneficiaries to purchase medication 
through the mail, a growing number of plans are now charging consumers 
substantially more for the privilege of using their neighborhood 
pharmacist. That includes the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan, 
which charges Federal employees nothing for mail order prescriptions, 
but a 20-percent copay for medications purchased through their 
neighborhood pharmacist.
  In an era when health care costs are eating away at the earnings and 
savings of too many Americans, especially our seniors, forcing them to 
pay significantly more to use their trusted pharmacist really means no 
choice at all. My bill will eliminate this cost discrepancy and give 
Americans a real choice.
  Mr. Speaker, the Prescription Drug Benefit Equity Act will give 
consumers peace of mind. Purchasing medication through the mail means 
no face-to-face interaction with a pharmacist. This one-on-one 
relationship is critical to consumers who rely on their pharmacist to 
ensure that a prescribed drug not only is right for them, but that they 
can obtain the product without the fear that it will be damaged, 
delayed, or lost in the mail.
  Many people are satisfied with their mail order service. That's 
great. This bill is not designed to eliminate the mail order industry. 
It is simply designed to give customers a choice, and through that 
choice--peace of mind. Under my bill, those who are happy with their 
mail order can continue using it. However, those who prefer the trip to 
their neighborhood drug store would have that option as well--no extra 
charge.
  There is an equally important benefit of this legislation. The 
Prescription Drug Benefit Equity Act will help keep community 
pharmacists in business. Neighborhood pharmacies have played an 
important role in our communities for as long as any of us can 
remember. My bill will ensure that local pharmacists can compete on a 
level playing field with large mail order firms. That's good news for 
pharmacists and good news for patients.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce the Prescription Drug Benefit 
Equity Act and invite my colleagues to join me in support of this 
sensible measure.