[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 4, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MEDICARE'S NEW PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM

  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. President, I had the opportunity yesterday to be in 
Eden Prairie, MN, at a senior citizens center to talk to people 
gathered there about the opportunity they now have to obtain a discount 
card to lower the cost of prescription drugs. This is done less than 6 
months after the law was changed. I want to applaud Secretary Thompson 
and the folks from CMS for moving so quickly.
  What I find so troubling is I was on the Senate floor yesterday and I 
heard the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts and today the 
distinguished minority leader talking about how terrible this is and 
lambasting something that is just beginning. I ask that we put aside 
the partisan rhetoric and see if we can work together to give seniors 
an opportunity to get prescription drugs at lower costs. The card in 
question is one, by the way, if one is a senior at the lower end of the 
economic ladder and as an individual they have an income of under 
$13,000--I think it is about $12,500 for an individual and about 
$16,500 for a couple--that discount card has contained within it a $600 
credit. That $600 credit will cover the cost of prescription drugs from 
now until the end of the year and then $600 starting again in January; 
so, in fact, it is $1,200 for 18 months. With this card, seniors have 
an opportunity to get a list of the pharmacies at which they shop, get 
a list of the drugs they need, and then be able to price compare.
  I am not very computer literate, but many of us have complained about 
the complexity of the Medicare law. There is certainly a lot of debate 
about the complexity of the statute, but there is very little debate 
about the simplicity of the process that is involved in seniors 
figuring out what their options are under this card. If seniors call 1-
800-MEDICARE, they can speak with someone, tell the folks at Medicare 
where they live, what their income is, what drugs they need. They will 
be given a list with a whole range of opportunities, and then they can 
pick the program that is at the lowest cost to them.
  If a senior is computer literate themselves or they have a kid or 
even a grandkid who understands how to work computers, or in our case 
we had folks from AARP and from the Board of Aging--they were all there 
to work with these seniors--it makes it very simple.
  For those who talked about mystifying phases of confusion, why do we 
not just give it a chance to work. Can we not put aside partisan 
rhetoric and lambasting for a little bit of time and simply come 
together to say seniors deserve lower cost prescription drugs?
  I would like to see an opportunity for seniors to get safe drugs from 
anywhere, and if we can figure out a way to do a pilot project to get 
drugs from Canada, I would support that. We know that is not the 
panacea, that is not the cure all. We have passed a bill now that for 
the first time gives seniors the opportunity to get prescription drug 
coverage. Over 187,000 in Minnesota will get that coverage, and over 
119,000 will have this $600 benefit.

  I was taken aback by the comments of the Democratic leader when he 
talked about the Federal Government as a model in regard to military 
procurement and getting things at low cost. Goodness gracious, we have 
all heard the stories of $500 wrenches and toilets. There is a better 
way to do it.
  We have an opportunity now for seniors to be able to price shop. We 
have urged our seniors and I urge seniors, do not get the card right 
away, do not make their choice right away. Window shop for a couple of 
weeks, 10 days, figure out what is the lowest cost, and do the price 
comparison.
  We have an opportunity, and I hope we take it, to put aside the 
political hits and being negative about things even before the program 
is given a chance to work.

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