[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 58 (Friday, May 12, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E825-E826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ENCOURAGING ALL ELIGIBLE MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES TO REVIEW AVAILABLE 
OPTIONS TO DETERMINE WHETHER ENROLLMENT IN A MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG 
       PLAN BEST MEETS THEIR NEEDS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 2006

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution and to 
call for an extension of the May 15th deadline to allow our Nation's 
seniors more time to enroll in the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug 
program.
  While I support the resolution sponsored by Representative Nancy 
Johnson, I believe that seniors need more than just encouragement to 
enroll in Medicare Part D. They need time--time to figure out their 
myriad of choices under this new benefit.
  Mr. Speaker, seniors do not need an extension of the arbitrary May 
15th deadline because they don't know the deadline is fast approaching. 
They need time because the benefit is so complicated.
  They need time because the prescription drug benefit is not a direct 
add-on to Medicare centrally administered through CMS--which is what 
seniors and Democrats wanted, but a labyrinth of private companies, 
premiums, deductibles, co-payments, formularies, and pharmacy access 
that varies widely from plan to plan. In fact, in most states, 
beneficiaries have a choice of more than 36 drug plans.
  They need time because the Medicare Modernization Act passed in the 
wee hours of the morning by the slimmest of margins in the 108th 
Congress, protects the interests of big pharmaceutical companies at the 
expense of our seniors by not allowing the Secretary of HHS to 
negotiate the best price for lifesaving drugs for our seniors.
  They need time because they have to figure out how much their choice 
will cost them and whether or not they're in or out of the doughnut 
hole.
  They need time because a recent GAG Report indicates that 60 percent 
of callers to the CMS regarding this benefit were given inadequate and 
incomplete information.
  They need time because they face a maze of options provided by 
private insurance and pharmaceutical companies, entities which stand to 
reap great profit windfall that were placed in the bill by those who 
received enormous benefit from these industries.
  Mr. Speaker, private companies wanted to be in this business, but 
they didn't want to risk losing any money. So the law was specifically 
designed to maximize profits and ensure the participation of many 
private plans. That is why the choice of providers is plentiful, 
collective bargaining power is non-existent, and the confusion to 
seniors is so great. It is truly by design.
  Assuring that seniors have access to a high-quality and affordable 
prescription drug plan has been a top priority for me and my Democratic 
colleagues.
  When seniors tell me that they must cut their pills in half or skip 
meals just to pay for the medicines they need, it breaks my heart. The 
injustice of this incenses me.

[[Page E826]]

  So despite its flaws, this benefit may provide relief to some 
seniors. That is why I have been holding town halls in my district to 
provide information to hundreds of seniors about this benefit since 
sign-up began. That is how I know first-hand that even months later 
that the plethora of plans is confusing and the various components of 
the benefit are still not clear to many.
  I am convinced that there is a better way. That is why I am a 
cosponsor of the Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choices Act, 
H.R. 752 introduced by Representative Berry and H.R. 5263, recently 
introduced by Representative Donna Christensen. These bills would 
extend the enrollment period and provide immediate fixes to the 
Medicare Part D benefit.
  However, the will to make these changes for the benefit of our 
seniors by the Republican leaders in the House and Administration does 
not exist.
  Given this fact, while the federal legislation that authorized these 
plans is far from perfect, until a more comprehensive and more 
affordable prescription drug plan becomes available, I urge seniors to 
research your options.
  Seniors who do not already have prescription drug coverage should 
consider enrolling in a Medicare Part D plan of their choice before the 
May 15, 2006 deadline.
  Seniors who already have prescription drug coverage should check with 
their existing plan and consider whether a change in insurance is in 
their best interest before May 15, 2006.
  The May 15 deadline is less than one week away.
  There could be serious consequences for seniors if you delay, 
resulting in an unfair 7 percent lifetime premium penalty.
  The consequences of not making a choice are dire, so I urge seniors 
to make a choice before May 15, 2006 about Medicare Part D.
  Mr. Speaker, our Nation's seniors deserve comprehensive and 
affordable prescription drug coverage through the Medicare benefit.
  Making this a reality should be our goal for the future. In the 
meantime, let's extend the deadline and fix the flaws of the Medicare 
Part D program for our seniors. They deserve no less.

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