[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 132 (Thursday, October 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1866]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      AMERICANS NEED A BIPARTISAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE PLAN

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                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2000

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, data from a poll conducted by the Kaiser 
Family Foundation and Harvard University showing that health care is 
one of the top concerns among voters this election year. In the survey 
more than 50% identified health care or Medicare as the ``important 
issue in deciding their presidential vote,'' surpassing their concerns 
about the economy, crime, jobs, the budget and education. Among the 
issues cited as most pressing, prescription drug costs and the need for 
a benefit within Medicare were mentioned most frequently. Unfortunately 
at this time, there is little bipartisan consensus on the best way to 
achieve this solution in Congress. Both Republicans and Democrats have 
offered prescription drug proposals neither is the solution to the 
expanding Medicare prescription drug problem.
  Recently, two hastily conceived prescription drug plans came before 
the House for a vote. The Republican plan depended on private insurers 
to offer coverage to beneficiaries. Unfortunately, many private 
insurers were hesitant to offer a drug only benefit. In fact, the 
President of the Health Insurance Association of America testified in 
front of Congress that ``they would not sell insurance exclusively for 
drug costs.'' His assessment proved well-founded as only one plan 
initially expressed interest when the Republican plan was proposed.
  In the Democratic proposal, a catastrophic drug benefit would not 
have been available until 2006. In addition, it forced implementation 
of a new Medicare prescription drug benefit upon the already 
overburdened Health Care Financing Administration (which oversees 
Medicare) without giving them the necessary resources and flexibility 
to oversee Medicare fee for service, Medicare+Choice, and a new 
prescription drug plan.
  In our haste to show that we would construct prescription drug 
legislation, we sacrificed bipartisan deliberations for ``partisan one-
upmanship.'' It is abundantly clear that people want a prescription 
drug bill but passing flawed legislation to deflect criticism will only 
exacerbate the situation and erode confidence in government. I echo the 
sentiments of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), which 
also has concerns about both of the proposed prescription drug benefit 
plans, when they wrote. ``A solution that can stand the test of time 
will require true bipartisanship.''
  Now while we consider how to best devise a comprehensive Medicare 
prescription drug plan, we can at least pass legislation which takes a 
first valuable step towards that goal.
  H.R. 1796, the ``Medicare Chronic Disease Prescription Drug Benefit 
Act,'' of which I am a sponsor with Congressman Cardin, would supply 
Medicare prescription drug coverage to over 30 million seniors. By 
initially focusing on the most common chronic diseases which can be 
controlled with medication--heart disease, diabetes, high blood 
pressure, clinical depression, and rheumatoid arthritis--its objective 
is to reduce complications and unnecessary hospitalizations, making it 
possible for seniors with these ailments to take their medication 
regularly, and to mitigate high costs for the seniors who spend the 
most on medication.
  In addition, I supported the amendments to the Agriculture 
Appropriations bill which would allow for the bulk re-importation of 
FDA approved prescription drugs from FDA approved facilities in Canada 
and Mexico. These amendments, which had the overwhelming support of 
both the House and Senate, are a free market solution that increases 
choices and lowers the costs of prescription drugs for all Americans. 
Enactment of these bipartisan measures would enable more seniors to 
have access to safe and effective prescription drugs.
  Neither H.R. 1796 nor the re-importation amendments are the final 
solution to the prescription drug crisis but they are critically 
important first steps.

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