[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 1554]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                    PRESCRIPTION DRUG AFFORDABILITY

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, older Americans pay the highest prescription 
drug costs in the entire world. Because of the high cost and the lack 
of coverage, many of our seniors are being forced to make tough 
choices. In fact, one in eight seniors is forced to choose between 
buying food and buying medicine. Many seniors simply do not take drugs 
their doctors prescribe because they cannot afford them. Some seniors 
do not fill one or more of their prescriptions. Others divide their 
pills in half. Others, instead of taking half a pill a day, skip days 
and take them every other day. Some older Americans do not buy their 
own prescription medicine so they can buy the prescription medicine 
their spouse needs.
  In a country that is blessed with the economy that we have, and some 
of the best medical researchers in the world, it is disgraceful that 
lifesaving drugs are not being made accessible to our seniors. 
Prescription drugs are a necessary component of modern medicine, and 
our seniors are dependent on them to maintain healthy lives.
  It used to be, before Medicare came into being, that 4 out of every 
10 seniors who were hospitalized had no health insurance. Now virtually 
all have health insurance. At the time we started Medicare, it was not 
necessary that we have a prescription drug benefit. Thirty-five years 
later, it is absolutely important.
  I have in hand a couple of communications I have received from people 
from Nevada. Let me share with you what Michael Rose said:

       I am aware that Medicare reform will be the congressional 
     agenda this year and I would like to share my thoughts with 
     you.

  Skipping one paragraph and getting to the meat of this communication:

       I cannot afford the 5 medications that I currently take if 
     I have to get care elsewhere. Although I will be on the 
     Medicare rolls as of January 2000, I will still not be able 
     to afford my meds. As a manic-depressive, this means that I 
     cannot afford sanity and I am scared beyond your wildest 
     dreams about what will happen to me when the medications run 
     out because I can't afford them.
       Please vote in favor of including prescription drugs in any 
     Medicare reform package that is considered by the Senate.

  Mr. President, I repeat what he says: I will not be able to afford 
sanity. He takes pills to keep himself sane.
  I have a communication from Gail Rattigan, who is a registered nurse. 
She lives in Henderson, NV.

       Senator Reid: I am a [registered nurse] who recently cared 
     for an 82 year old woman who tried to commit suicide because 
     she couldn't afford the medications her doctor had told her 
     were necessary to prevent a stroke. It would be much more 
     cost effective for the government to pay for medications that 
     prevent these serious illnesses than expensive 
     hospitalizations. These include but are not limited to blood 
     pressure medications, anti-stroke anticoagulants, and 
     cholesterol medications. The government's current policy of 
     paying for medications only in the hospital is backward. Get 
     into health promotion and disease promotion and save money. 
     Please share this message with your republican colleagues. 
     Thanks for your support. Sincerely, Gail Rattigan.

  She is right. We need to move on and do something about giving senior 
citizens who are on Medicare prescription drug benefits. We need to do 
that at the earliest possible time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from Montana is 
recognized.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak in 
morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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