[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 79 (Tuesday, June 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6631-S6632]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CONRAD:
  S. 2512. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
simplify the medicare prescription drug card program, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Drug Discount 
Card Simplification Act, which will take needed steps to improve the 
Medicare-approved drug discount card program.
  The drug discount card program was designed to provide seniors with 
temporary relief from high drug costs until the full Medicare drug 
benefit starts in 2006. This program has the potential to give real 
help to low income seniors in particular, because it will give them up 
to $600 both this year and next year toward their prescription drug 
purchases.
  Unfortunately, the way the program has been implemented is 
unnecessarily confusing. In talking to North Dakotans, I have heard 
repeatedly that seniors are finding it extremely difficult to figure 
out which card, if any, is right for them. And no wonder. The media are 
full of stories detailing how difficult it is to get accurate 
information about the program.
  The 1-800-MEDICARE phone help line is continuously busy. When someone 
finally answers the phone, the operators often can't answer seniors' 
questions or, even worse, give incorrect information.
  The web site is easier to access, but many seniors don't have access 
to the Internet. Those who do have Internet access have found that the 
pricing information is often incomplete or out-of-date, or pharmacy 
access information is incorrect.
  The bottom line is that the program, as implemented, overwhelms 
seniors with too many choices. Don't get me wrong. I like choice. But 
when it comes to 60,000 different drugs purchased with 73 discount 
cards at over 50,000 pharmacies, the combinations seem endless for a 
senior with several different prescriptions to be filled. On top of 
that, the prices can change weekly.
  Besides the number of cards, seniors also hesitate to purchase a card 
because they are concerned about the lack of reliability in coverage 
and available discounts.
  Once seniors choose a card, they are locked into that card until the 
open enrollment period at the end of the year. During the time when 
they are locked in, the drug card program sponsor is allowed to reduce 
the discounts provided, drop coverage of a drug, or even drop its 
program altogether--leaving seniors without drug coverage and forcing 
them to go through the sign up procedure over again. I don't think this 
is fair for seniors or a wise policy for Medicare.
  Faced with this complexity, seniors are simply choosing not to sign 
up. So far, of the 15 million seniors estimated to be eligible for the 
drug card program, fewer than 500,000 have signed up voluntarily. 
Another 2.4 million have been signed up automatically by their HMO.
  If seniors want anything, it's simplicity, consistency, and 
reliability. That's why I am introducing the Drug Discount Card 
Simplification Act. My bill has three provisions.
  First, my bill would require the Secretary to select the best three 
discount cards in each region. The Secretary would choose among the 
existing approved cards and base his decision on the following three 
factors: (1) which cards give the deepest discounts; (2) which cards 
cover the widest range of drugs; and (3) which cards make it easiest 
for seniors to get their drugs by having the widest network of 
participating pharmacies.
  Second, my legislation would prohibit drug card sponsors from 
offering discounts that are less than the discounts seniors are 
promised during the sign-up period.
  Finally, the bill I introduce today will protect seniors' access to 
drugs by requiring discount drug card sponsors to continue offering 
coverage of a drug throughout the duration of the program.
  By simplifying the program, my bill will increase participation, 
ensuring that seniors can benefit from the discounts that are being 
provided. And it will help smooth the path for successful 
implementation of the drug benefit itself in 2006.

[[Page S6632]]

  Now, some may argue that my bill will eliminate competition. I 
disagree. My bill will increase competition by encouraging sponsors to 
offer the best discounts available in order to be approved as one of 
the three cards. In addition, my idea is not new; in fact it is 
consistent with the Administration's proposal to limit the PPO options 
in the Medicare Modernization Act MA to just three per region.
  I believe my legislation will provide better discount drug cards for 
seniors and make it easier for them to sign up for these benefits. I 
urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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