[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 8419]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT CARDS

  (Ms. BERKLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, when Congress passed the Medicare 
prescription drug bill, seniors expected real prescription drug 
coverage. Instead, seniors are receiving a sham discount card that 
guarantees no savings and will not lower drug costs.
  Many seniors already use a drug discount card available at their 
pharmacies which provides savings up to 25 percent. Seniors are able to 
use as many cards as they need.
  The Medicare discount card will limit the options available to our 
seniors. Seniors will be allowed only one card, and drug prices can 
vary week to week. In fact, drug companies are already starting to 
increase drug prices so they will not lose any money.
  Democrats are committed to not only fighting for a prescription drug 
benefit for our seniors but for lower drug prices and giving seniors 
real choices.
  The administration's drug benefit will mask inflated prices and give 
huge subsidies to drug companies. I am disappointed, as a matter of 
fact I am heartsick, that many seniors who desperately need our help 
will not save one dime on their medication bills under this 
administration's program.

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