By Mary Malloy
, who joined Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington), officials from the American Association of Retired Persons, the Family and Children's Association, and veterans last week to demonstrate how new legislation could lower drug prices for seniors on Medicare.
"It is time for the Medicare drug program to work harder for its beneficiaries," McCarthy said. "I have spoken to a number of seniors in my district whose prescription drug prices increased in 2007. The current system is not working, and is placing unnecessary financial burden on Long Island's seniors. It is time to put the interests of seniors first."
McCarthy said she was pleased when the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation bill (H.R. 4) was passed by the House of Representatives on Jan. 12 by a vote of 255-170. The bill would require the secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate with drug companies for lower drug prices on behalf of the 43 million Medicare beneficiaries. It would repeal a current law that prohibits such negotiations.
"We were jubilant when H.R. 4 passed," said McCarthy, "but by the time we got on the plane to come home from Washington, we had heard that the president planned to veto it." McCarthy added that Medicare beneficiaries should have the same rights and ability to negotiate prices as veterans do. "We're not interfering with the private sector," she said. "This is for our seniors and others on Medicare. We need them to stay healthy."
"Neither seniors nor taxpayers can afford to pay any more than necessary for prescription drugs," said Israel. "If the state, Fortune 500 companies, large pharmacy chains and the Veterans Administration all use bargaining clout to leverage lower drug prices for the patients they represent, the federal government should be able to do the same for seniors."
Phyllis Hill Slater, who serves on the Executive Council for AARP in New York State, said about the bill, "It's a step in the right direction. Polls show that 90 percent of AARP members across all political affiliations supported giving the secretary the power to bargain for lower drug prices in Medicare. Currently, for Medicare beneficiaries, Part D has proved to be a giant step toward AARP's goal of access to affordable prescription drugs for all Americans."
Medicare Part D is insurance provided by private companies approved by Medicare. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, the coverage required payment of a monthly premium. Beneficiaries who have limited income, however, may qualify for extra help, which exempts them from paying premiums and deductibles, and each prescription costs them no more than $5. "Millions of individuals are filling prescriptions each week under Part D and they are realizing substantial savings ... but our work is not over," Slater said. "A major goal of AARP remains to put mechanisms in place that will help push down our drug prices."
"The price of drugs has gone up at twice the rate of inflation," Israel said. "It's a matter of common sense. The seniors need volume discounts."
World War II veteran Milton Israel of Commack said that his wife, who is 79, must work part-time to get health insurance. "There must be some way for the drug companies to do this and still make money," Israel said. "We are helping everyone else in the world. It just isn't fair."
McCarthy has vowed to not let people on Medicare down. "If it is vetoed, we will continue to reintroduce it," she said. "We have so many different groups on board - we should reach out to the Senate not to veto this bill. Citizens should contact their senators. We can win this battle."
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