[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10105]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

  (Mr. ROGERS of Alabama asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, relief from skyrocketing 
prescription drug prices is finally on its way.
  Beginning in June, Alabama seniors previously without prescription 
drug coverage should begin to see savings of between 10 and 25 percent 
on their medications. For example, seniors who previously paid $100 per 
month for one prescription could now pay as little as $75 per month 
under this new 100 percent voluntary plan. These same seniors could now 
see savings of up to $300 per year just on this one medication; and for 
low-income seniors, even more help is on the way.
  Thanks to a $600-per-month credit, 21,400 seniors in my congressional 
district should see an additional assistance with their drug bills. 
What is more, Alabama seniors will soon be eligible for important new 
features like diabetes screening and a free welcome-to-Medicare 
physical.
  The legislation makes important new investments in our rural 
hospitals and clinics as well. These investments will help improve the 
health for all of our seniors, as well as all of our families and 
children.

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