[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 108 (Thursday, September 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1485-E1486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE STABENOW

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 14, 2000

  Ms. STABENOW. Mr. Speaker, on April 12, I led an hour of debate on 
the topic of prescription drug coverage for senior citizens. I read 
three letters from around the state from seniors who shared their 
personal stories. On the 12th, I made a commitment to continue to read 
a different letter every week until the House enacts reform. That was 
five months ago. Although the House passed a prescription drug bill 
this summer, I believe it will not help most seniors. So, I will 
continue to read letters until Congress enacts a real Medicare 
prescription drug benefit. This week, I will read a letter from Shirley 
Radcliff of Gladstone, Michigan.
  Together, Shirley and her husband spend $1,042.36 for their 
prescription drugs. With the Democratic prescription drug plan, they 
would save $286.32. Under the Republican plan, their costs would remain 
the same. In other words, the Republican plan would not help them.
  Before I read Shirley's letter, let me share some information with my 
colleagues. In July, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a 
Prescription Drug Trends Chart Book that contains important findings.
  In 1996, a third of the Medicare population had no drug coverage. 
This means that one third of those beneficiaries had there access to 
the prescription drugs they needed limited by their income.
  Prices are rising and it is becoming increasingly more difficult for 
senior to pay for their medications out of their own pockets. In the 
past 5 years, the increase in prescription drug expenditures have been 
2 to 4 times the percent changes in expenditure for most other health 
care services.
  National spending for prescription drugs totaled $91 billion in 1998, 
more than double the amount spent in 1990. Prescription drug 
utilization is the fastest growing component of health care, increasing 
at double digit rates nearly every year since 1985.
  It is critical that Medicare be modernized to include coverage for 
this important component. I strongly support the Democratic proposal 
that creates a voluntary, defined benefit.
  Text of letter: ``Enclosed is a copy of the drugs taken and their 
prices that my husband and I have taken in 1999 (and are still taking 
in 2000).
  ``We are a couple on a fixed income and cannot afford these drugs 
that continue to escalate. Our income cannot keep up with it.
  ``Take note: the middle of the first page: 15 pills of Paxil are 
$41.99. I cannot afford that and discontinued taking them because of 
it.
  ``And, at the top of page three, a two-month supply of Daypro is 
$82.53. I no longer take these either, because I cannot afford them.
  ``Something has to be done! At your level! Someday you will be in my 
shoes. Pray that you are well and do not need prescription drugs. 
Sincerely, Shirley M. Radcliff.''

[[Page E1486]]



                          ____________________