[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               MEDICARE PART D AND COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS

  (Ms. HERSETH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the crisis facing our 
community pharmacists, particularly those in rural communities. Of all 
the health care professionals struggling with the implementation of the 
new Medicare drug benefit, pharmacists appear to be the most negatively 
affected.
  Guess what? Pharmacists are facing another blow. The recently enacted 
cuts to the Medicaid program are achieved by changes in the way we 
reimburse pharmacies for prescription drugs.
  The choices made during the budget reconciliation process once again 
targeted our Nation's pharmacists without asking for corresponding 
sacrifices from the pharmaceutical manufacturers and the PBMs.
  This one-two punch is not only bad policy, it is outrageous. Health 
and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt praised pharmacists last week 
for their ``heroic'' efforts in shouldering the burden for implementing 
Medicare Part D.
  Their reward? Drastic pharmacy reimbursement cuts in the Medicaid 
program that will have a devastating impact on our communities, 
disproportionately impacting the poorest and sickest Americans that 
will no doubt put hundreds, if not thousands, of small businesses out 
of business.
  It is time this body quit taking the path of least resistance and 
base our health policy decisions on what is good for our constituents, 
communities and small businesses, not the powerful drug and insurance 
companies. I respectfully and urgently ask my colleagues to address 
this important issue.

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