[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 106 (Thursday, July 26, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1440-E1441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG CONSUMER INFORMATION ACT OF 2001

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2001

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, with health care costs rising 
astronomically and millions of Americans feeling abused and neglected 
by their health care providers, it is high time that we in Congress do 
something to alleviate this situation. Americans feel vulnerable to the 
financial whims of the health care industry and they worry that their 
health will suffer because health care providers are more concerned 
with the bottom line on their quarterly reports rather than the line on 
a patient's heart monitor. I feel that it is my duty to stand up for 
the American people to protect them from runaway costs and abusive 
health care services.
  I rise today to introduce the Prescription Drug Consumer Information 
Act of 2001. This bill directs the Secretary of the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services to prepare and publish an annual consumer 
guide detailing prescription drug prices. This catalog will prove 
invaluable both to consumers and to health care providers. This is a 
logical and necessary step in the process of ensuring affordable health 
care of every person in this country who buys prescription drugs. I 
submit that every single one of us is currently paying too much for 
quality health care.
  Health insurance programs in the United States cover tens of millions 
of elderly and disabled persons. While these programs do provide 
quality coverage for many health care services, they often lack 
effective prescription drug benefits for the people who need them the 
most. This bill is a wonderful and significant first step in the 
process of providing those benefits.
  Under the Prescription Drug Consumer Information Act of 2001, a 
complete consumer guide to all current and available prescription drugs 
will be distributed across the country. This catalog will contain a 
list of prices for all prescription drugs in an easy-to-understand 
format organized by therapeutic category so that the reader will be 
able to quickly peruse the various drugs for his or her specific 
condition. This catalog will be updated annually, and additional 
updates may be sent out during the year if a change were to occur in a 
drug's availability or price.
  Mr. Speaker, this catalog will have numerous advantages for both 
consumers and health care providers. The most obvious advantage is that 
this catalog will enable the reader to quickly determine what drugs are 
available to treat his or her condition. Consumers will also be able to 
reduce their expenses for prescription drugs by comparing the prices of 
various drugs side by side. The convenience of being able to look up 
any prescription drug on the market for information about its price and 
effectiveness will prove to be an invaluable coup for the health care 
consumer.
  My bill will also have advantages for health care providers. With 
this catalog, health care providers will be able to determine very 
easily the cost-effectiveness of certain prescription drugs as compared 
to other prescription drugs and therapies. This will result in a lower 
cost overall for both the health care provider and the consumer, as 
health care providers will be able to choose the most cost-effective 
prescription drug for their patients.
  Mr. Speaker, I implore my colleagues to vote favorably on this 
important piece of legislation. My bill is a meaningful, proactive, and 
decent effort on our part to help the people that need our help. How 
could anyone possibly be against providing the American people

[[Page E1441]]

with the information that they need to ensure that they receive the 
best health care possible? We all talk about the importance of 
extending prescription drug benefits to the American people. Mr. 
Speaker, my bill, which will benefit the American people by enabling 
them to have access to accurate and timely information about 
prescription drugs, is an important first step, and I sincerely hope 
that this House will recognize it as so.

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