[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 62 (Thursday, May 18, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H3401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE FOR SENIORS NEEDED NOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Walden of Oregon). Under a previous 
order of the House, the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stabenow) is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening again to talk about a 
critical issue facing all families in the United States, and 
particularly seniors, and that is the high cost of prescription drugs 
and the lack of coverage by Medicare. This is a critical issue that 
faces Michigan families. I hear from seniors every day about their 
struggles, choosing between the cost of food, being able to pay the 
utility bill, being able to get their medications.
  Last summer I set up a hot line in Michigan asking those who had 
stories to tell to call and share those with me, and also for 
individuals to write me letters and send me copies of their 
prescription drug bills. I have received hundreds of those from across 
the state. I have begun sharing those each week on the floor of this 
House.
  It is critical that we pass prescription drug coverage under 
Medicare, to modernize Medicare to cover the way health care is 
provided today, and do it as soon as possible, and I intend to be here 
and share stories every week until that happens.
  We know that there are 12 percent of the population that are seniors, 
but seniors purchase 33 percent of all prescription drugs. Over one-
third of the 39 million Medicare beneficiaries, 15.5 million people, 
have no prescription drug coverage at all, and millions have 
insufficient coverage or must pay expensive copays. So you are talking 
about individuals, many of whom are living on Social Security, with a 
small pension, who are now finding themselves in a situation where they 
are needing to use medications, and the costs are going up and up. What 
do they do? Too many of them decide, do I buy my groceries today, or 
can I stretch it just a little bit longer and be able to afford my 
medications?
  On top of that, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, drug 
prices rose by 306 percent between 1981 and 1999, while the consumer 
price index rose 99 percent during the same period, so we are seeing 
drug prices going up three times as fast as the consumer price index or 
other kinds of products.
  The price for prescription drugs is expected to be 12 to 15 percent 
higher than in 1999. Not only are costs rising, but the volume of 
prescription drug use is also increasing. The number of prescriptions 
is expected to increase from 3 billion today to 4 billion prescriptions 
by 2004.
  So what we are seeing is, as more and more people are using 
prescription drugs, it is wonderful that we have the new discoveries 
and the fact we have that available, and the fact that people can live 
longer and healthier lives is wonderful, but we are seeing a product 
going up three times as fast as the consumer price index in the pricing 
structure, and we see too many seniors that do not have any help at all 
for covering the costs, even though seniors are the ones that use the 
most prescription drugs. It makes no sense.
  We also see that prescription drug coverage now is very much a part 
of the way health care is provided today. When Medicare was set up in 
1965, it was in-patient care, operations and prescription drugs in the 
hospital. Now we see most of the care being done on an outpatient 
basis, being done through home care or prescription drugs that allow 
people to avoid having surgery and to be able to live at home with 
their family.
  This is a good thing, but only if we make sure that Medicare is 
modernized to cover the new way health care is provided. It is time for 
that to happen. It is past time for that to happen.
  I would like to share now a letter from Louise Jarnac of Cheboygan, 
Michigan. I am very grateful that she wrote in to me and shared her 
comments and thoughts.

       Dear Congresswoman Stabenow, I am sending three of my 
     prescription drug bills and one of my brother's. I sure hope 
     you can get some help for the elderly. It seems everything is 
     more important than our health. I am 80 years old and my 
     brother is 78 years old. These prescription drug prices take 
     a big chunk out of our Social Security, since that is our 
     full income. I am a widow and live alone, therefore, I have 
     all the expenses all by myself. The last time I got my 
     prescriptions it was $99.99 for Prevacid, this time it is 
     $130.49. Most of the time I can't afford it and I go without 
     until I can get it again. I think Social Security should be 
     used for our security and not for other things.
           Thank you,
                                                    Louise Jarnac.
  Mr. Speaker, Prevacid, like another commonly known drug--Prilosec, is 
prescribed to inhibit gastric secretions. It is used to treat heartburn 
or other symptoms associated with GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux 
disease), ulcers, or other acid related disorders.
  Without treating these symptoms, Mrs. Jarnac's condition could 
develop into cancer.
  Furthermore, these diseases are extremely painful, and Mrs. Jarnac is 
unable to afford the medication on a regular basis to control the pain.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time we do something about this, and make sure our 
seniors are not put in this position.

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