[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 11 (Friday, January 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE NEGOTIATIONS ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ALBERT RUSSELL WYNN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2007

  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, today, the House will take up, H.R. 4, the 
Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiations Act of 2007. H.R. 4 will 
require the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies in 
order to obtain reduced drug prices for seniors enrolled in the 
Medicare Prescription Drug Program. The bill prohibits, that in 
conducting these negotiations, the government may not restrict access 
to certain drugs by requiring a particular list of covered drugs, 
otherwise known as a formulary. Under the Republican majority, the 
government was prohibited from engaging in any negotiations to utilize 
its buying power to reduce costs to consumers.
  I have been assured by my colleagues that H.R. 4 will not involve or 
allow restrictions on patients' access to medicines during the 
negotiation process. Specifically, I have been assured that H.R. 4's 
prohibition against government mandated formularies is intended to 
protect against all forms of government imposed restrictions on 
patients' access to needed medicines, and that no such restrictions 
will be allowed under the Medicare Modernization Act as amended by H.R. 
4. In casting my vote for H.R. 4, I am relying on these assurances 
because I firmly believe that all patients must have unrestricted 
access to doctor prescribed medications.
  Overall, I am optimistic about this bill. While the government should 
have the ability to negotiate on behalf of the 43 million seniors on 
Medicare, we must be careful that negotiations do not result in reduced 
access to prescriptions. We must strike a delicate balance to ensure 
that lower prices do not cause drug companies to withdraw vital drugs 
from the Medicare Prescription Drug Program. As H.R. 4 moves forward to 
conference, I ask that the conferees affirmatively strengthen and 
clarify the rules against government imposed restrictions. If 
implemented properly, this bill has the potential to cut the cost of 
health care and improve access to medicines for millions of seniors on 
Medicare.
  According to Families USA, while providing some relief, the current 
Medicare Prescription drug law has failed to slow the rapid growth in 
drug prices. As a cosponsor of H.R. 4 and a member of the Energy and 
Commerce Committee, I will be exploring additional legislative measures 
designed to reduce costs for seniors, without reducing access to life 
saving drugs.

                          ____________________