[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11014]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          DRUG DISCOUNT CARDS

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I also very briefly want to comment on the 
drug discount cards that are being made available and which take effect 
this month. This is June 1 and they take effect beginning today.
  The discount cards, as my colleagues know, are a product of 
legislation signed by the President last December. The reality is that 
we have seniors today who are literally choosing between paying for 
their rent and paying for their food and obtaining prescription drugs.
  One of the objectives set out in this piece of legislation and set 
out by the President of the United States was that we need to get help 
to those people who need help the most in terms of their prescription 
drugs. Thus, although this is a more comprehensive approach, affordable 
access to prescription drugs for seniors does not begin to take place 
for about a year and a half from now. I am delighted that just several 
months after passage of this bill and the signing into law by the 
President these prescription drug cards are available. They are 
available today, and they will have an impact today.
  There are a couple of quick points that I would like to make: First 
of all, they are available to all Medicare enrollees who lack 
prescription drug coverage.
  Second, the card itself will give a discount on average of about 17 
percent. Seniors who do not have access through affordable access to 
prescription drugs can get these cards and on average get a discount of 
about 17 percent, which is a huge discount that can start literally 
today.
  Third, and what I am most excited about, those seniors who really 
need it the most and who simply can't afford prescription drugs will 
get a value on this card in addition to the 17-percent discount of $600 
for the remainder of this year, and another $600 for next year. Thus, 
over the next 18 months they will get $1,200 in value, like a voucher, 
to purchase prescription drugs.
  Again, that is a huge benefit for the millions of seniors who qualify 
for this low-income benefit as well. There are about 4 million low-
income seniors whose incomes do not exceed the $12,500 level for 
individuals and about the $16,800 level for couples and who can have 
this direct and immediate benefit with this card.
  I am very excited about the fact that these cards are available. They 
are available today. You can call the 800 Medicare number or go on the 
Medicare Web site to get more information.
  With that, I yield the floor.

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