[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12452]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNITION OF GARRETT HALL AND CHRIS SHEA

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to commend Garrett Hall and 
Chris Shea, fellow Nevadans who deserve praise for their efforts during 
the implementation of the new Medicare Part D drug benefit in Nevada.
  As most of us have surely heard, the enrollment period was a time of 
great stress, confusion, and frustration for nearly everyone involved. 
As seniors, people with disabilities, and their loved ones tried to 
understand the complicated new drug benefit, decide whether to sign up, 
and then find the best drug plan to join, many found themselves 
overwhelmed. Emerging from those reports were also stories about 
pharmacists who struggled with the numerous implementation problems.
  Garrett and Chris, who operate PAX Rx in Reno, NV, are fine examples 
of pharmacists across the country who did their best to assist those 
seeking their help and advice. However, Garrett and Chris did more than 
simply rise to the occasion. By all accounts, they went above and 
beyond the minimum bar set for them.
  For one particularly vulnerable group, the Medicare-Medicaid dual 
eligible beneficiaries, Garrett and Chris came to the rescue countless 
times to ensure that they did not fall through the bureaucratic cracks. 
As many of us know, newspapers widely reported the numerous 
implementation problems that threatened to keep these dual-eligible 
beneficiaries from receiving their vitally important medications. 
Garrett and Chris know that there are real lives behind these facts and 
statistics because their PAX Rx pharmacy repeatedly intervened on 
behalf of affected customers. At no cost to such beneficiaries, they 
provided the needed medications, either by mail or hand delivery.
  These two Nevadans' contributions extended beyond the scope of their 
pharmacy practice. Garrett and Chris also attended townhall meetings 
and other public events, seeking out stakeholders in need of guidance 
and lending their expertise. In the words of one observer, Garrett and 
Chris ``saved the day for Nevada during the early days of 
implementation.'' They are among the countless pharmacists who deserve 
recognition for their efforts in Nevada and across the country.
  For these deeds, Garrett and Chris are a credit to all of us working 
toward the success of the new Medicare drug benefit in Nevada.

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