[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 38 (Thursday, March 30, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H1367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             PROBLEMS WITH MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, the countdown to the Bush 
drug tax, 44 days before May 15. May 15.
  Last week, during the break, I held six town hall meetings throughout 
my district on the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program. And I 
would encourage all of my colleagues to do the same. Not only did it 
give my constituents a chance to get the help that they needed and 
answered their questions, it gave me an opportunity to really find out 
how the new program is working or, should I say, not working.
  Unfortunately, I heard a lot of horror stories from a lot of people. 
Not only is picking a plan extremely complicated, but the arbitrary 
date of May 15 makes absolutely no sense. I have been an elected 
official for over 25 years. And this is the first time I have seen 
people who are going to be penalized for the rest of their lives if 
they do not sign up by a certain date, May 15.
  Not only having them to set a ridiculous short time to sign up for 
this complicated plan, but the next time seniors can sign up will be 
November 15 through December 31, that includes both Thanksgiving and 
Christmas holidays. So it is very complicated for seniors.
  The Republican leadership wrote a bill that prevents the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services from negotiating the price of the drug, even 
though both the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of DOT 
are negotiating these prices right now.
  Can you imagine what would happen if Wal-Mart, if we told Wal-Mart 
they could not get a reduction price on bulk buying? Every Republican 
in this House would be on this floor screaming bloody murder. But when 
it is the needs of our seniors, there is a deaf ear; you do not hear 
them.
  This bill allows the private plans to take drugs off of their 
approved lists and even charge more for drugs during that year. They 
can charge more, while seniors are locked in and cannot change plans 
until the next year.
  It also turns seniors into criminals. Yes, criminals. What do I mean? 
If they buy drugs that are cheaper, let us say in Mexico or Canada, 
they will be criminals.
  And one of the most troubling aspects of this bill, and the one that 
most people talk about is the doughnut. What do you mean doughnut? 
Well, no coverage is provided after you spend $2,250 until your cost 
reaches $5,001. That is $3,000 out-of-pocket.
  Lastly, I want to talk about the independent pharmacists. This bill 
is killing your small town pharmacists who have been in business for 
years. They still know their customers by name. They are the only 
pharmacists who are still delivering medicine to seniors who cannot 
come out of the house or after hours when someone needs an emergency 
prescription.
  This Congress needs to do the right thing for our parents and 
grandparents and extend this silly deadline date of May 15, allow the 
Secretary to negotiate bulk prices, and should make the appropriate 
changes that will save America's local pharmacies from extinction.
  Again, I encourage my colleagues to hold their meetings and talk to 
their seniors and pharmacies about the drug plan. And seniors, for 
God's sake, please look at this: May 15, you need to sign up. But if 
you have questions, call Medicare counselors at 1-800-Medicare, that 
is, 1-800-633-4227. That is May 15. That is the drop-dead date. Thank 
you.

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