[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 10 (Thursday, January 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E140-E141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE NEGOTIATION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2007

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 4, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation 
Act. I am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 4, and I congratulate Speaker 
Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer for keeping their promise to the 
American people by taking this important step to place access to 
quality care for America's seniors and fiscal responsibility for 
taxpayers over increasing corporate profits.
  The Republican Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 included an 
unprecedented provision outright prohibiting the Federal Government 
from negotiating for lower prescription drug prices. The result was 
predictable. Drug company profits soared, while drug prices increased 
for seniors and persons with disabilities. A July 2006 New York Times 
article reported that pharmaceutical companies may have received a more 
than $2 billion windfall last year as a result of the transfer of low-
income Medicaid recipients into the Medicare Part D program. Profiting 
from the sale of medications for our most vulnerable citizens is 
unacceptable.
  H.R. 4 will require the Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, 
to negotiate for lower drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries. 
This legislation does not say how the negotiating authority should be 
implemented, but instead allows the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services to determine the best way to negotiate for the lowest prices.
  I have held several town halls in my district about Medicare Part D, 
and each time my

[[Page E141]]

constituents have clearly stated that a ban on negotiating for lower 
prescription drug costs makes no sense. H.R. 4 is supported by 
community pharmacists, AARP, consumer rights' groups, and dozens of 
other organizations. Additionally, negotiating for lower prescription 
drug costs is not a new idea. States, corporations, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and large pharmacy chains all negotiate to receive 
price discounts on prescription drugs. In fact, HHS already has 
experience negotiating for lower prescription drug costs. In 2001, the 
agency successfully negotiated for lower prices for Cipro, the 
medication used in response to the anthrax attacks. It is time for HHS 
to use this expertise to benefit America's seniors and persons with 
disabilities.
  Clearly, there is still much more work to be done to correct the many 
inadequacies of Medicare Part D, but H.R. 4 is an important first step, 
and one which will result in lower drug costs and real savings for 
millions of seniors and people with disabilities.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4.

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