[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 119 (Thursday, September 19, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

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                    HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 18, 2002

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, our Nation and its seniors are 
experiencing a crisis regarding Medicare benefits and specifically 
prescription drugs. This issue is of vital concern to them. 
Furthermore, in my Congressional District, my constituents consistently 
raise questions to me about what looms on the horizon as it relates to 
them obtaining a prescription drug benefit, because the cost of 
prescription drugs is so high.
  At the current time, seniors on fixed incomes are confronted with 
escalating prices for medication and private companies are offering 
benefits that are grossly inadequate. Meanwhile, the majority's 
proposal will force seniors to shop for and buy a private insurance 
plan.
  The truth is, seniors are pawns in the corporate and political game 
of prescription drugs. They are being forced to choose between buying 
food or their medication. No matter what choice they make, their health 
is still imperiled. It is unfair and unconscionable that our seniors 
are being treated in this manner. They deserve far better treatment.
  Democrats support a Medicare prescription drug benefit that covers 
all seniors under Medicare, a benefit that would be voluntary and 
universal. I fully support the Democratic proposal, and I also support 
the proposals put forward by AARP.
  If we look at the facts and put aside the rhetoric, the facts are 
clear. Soaring prices for prescription drugs are putting medicine out 
of reach for millions of seniors.
  We Democrats support a Medicare prescription drug benefit that covers 
all seniors. Every senior would have access, regardless of where he or 
she lives and the amount of their income.
  However, the House Republican prescription drug plan is a sham 
proposal that provides no real guarantee at all. Their plan will not 
cover all seniors. In fact, the benefit will be so limited that it 
won't be worthwhile for many middle-income seniors to enroll. Moreover, 
the Republican plan forces seniors to shop for and buy a private 
insurance plan, making it a hassle for older Americans who will have to 
contend with insurance plans that come and go.
  Democrats know that this model doesn't work. The model didn't work in 
1965, and that's why we created Medicare. Even the insurance companies 
say it won't work--the Health Insurance Association of America has said 
that they will not offer drug-only policies. Simply put, the Republican 
plan is guaranteed to fail.
  Let me also emphasize that the Republican prescription drug plan does 
absolutely nothing to slow prescription drug prices from continuing 
their upward spiral.
  It is time for my majority colleagues to come clean. Now is the time 
to pass a meaningful prescription drug plan that uses Medicare to make 
drugs affordable and which provides a universal, voluntary benefit for 
all seniors. If we closely examine the proposals put forward by the 
majority, it is abundantly clear what they are doing. They say ``Lower 
the cost of prescription drugs now,'' but that really only translates 
to ``take credit for minimal discounts that are already available.''
  The facts are crystal clear, the so-called discounts will be nothing 
more than minimal discounts from programs that are readily available in 
the marketplace today. Furthermore, these programs advertise far better 
savings than what they actually offer.
  Another mantra being repeated constantly is ``guarantee all senior 
citizens prescription drug coverage,'' but the translation is ``promise 
seniors an inadequate drug benefit offered by private insurance 
companies.''
  At the end of the day, when seniors have to check their bank 
balances, there is no getting around the reality that an inadequate 
drug benefit offered by private insurance companies is really no 
guarantee whatsoever.
  Early reports indicate that the Republican plan has major gaps and 
their prescription drug plan will leave Medicare beneficiaries 100% 
financially liable for thousands of dollars in drug costs. At the same 
time insurers can charge whatever they want and discriminate against 
the most vulnerable, including those with disabilities.
  What we must do as Democrats is improve Medicare by providing more 
choices and savings, not by shifting costs to seniors and limiting the 
choice of providers.
  My seniors are telling me that they think the Republican proposals 
will not result in more health care providers or more savings. They 
express deeply held fears that the end result will be a negative shift 
in costs to seniors, and a conversion of Medicare into a voucher 
program in which seniors would get a fixed government contribution and 
in turn would be told to choose a health plan they can afford.
  For all the talk about strengthening Medicare for the future, seniors 
around this great nation are concluding that the ultimate goal is to 
undermine Medicare by forcing seniors into private insurance and HMOs 
for drug coverage.
  Now is the time to provide a Medicare prescription drug benefit. 
Democrats are ready, willing and able to provide seniors with a benefit 
they desperately need. Our colleagues on the opposite of the aisle need 
to roll up their sleeves and work with us. We owe a debt of gratitude 
to seniors who have helped to make America great and strong. The least 
we can do is deliver on our commitment to help keep them healthy by 
providing a prescription drug benefit.

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