Passage of FAST ACT/Prompt Pay

Over the past couple of weeks BOTH the House and Senate passed of H.R. 6331, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The Medicare bill, which passed Congress with a veto-proof margin, included my prompt pay bill, H.R. 1474, the Fair and Speedy Treatment (FAST) of Medicare Prescription Drug Claims Act of 2007. The legislation will help keep community pharmacies from going out of business by mandating that insurance companies provide prompt reimbursement under the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit.

The administration of the Medicare Part D program has been a bad prescription for both patients and community pharmacists. This law put family-owned pharmacies at risk of closing, often leaving patients without their only medical professional available in the area. Congress has finally passed legislation that will provide a remedy to a problem that has crippled community pharmacies for too long.

Since the implementation of Medicare Part D, more than 1,152 community pharmacies have been forced to close their doors. In addition, only 50% of claims are paid by insurers within 30 days. While pharmacists often wait over a month for reimbursement, they must pay their wholesaler every two weeks, putting them in often extreme financial hardship.

This bill mandates that clean claims submitted electronically be paid within 14 days, and all other clean claims will be paid within 30 days. Pharmacists must also be promptly notified if there are problems with submitted claims.

The FAST Act was included as part of the larger bill called the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. This, along with the provisions from my bill, it prevents the 10.1% reduction in Medicare reimbursement rates, enhances Medicare preventive and mental health benefits, improves and extends programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, and extends expiring provisions for rural and other providers.

It is no secret that our health care system is broken. As one of the wealthiest countries in the world, it is a shame we cannot provide Americans with better and cheaper health care. Too many Arkansans are living paycheck to paycheck and worry about becoming seriously ill because they know they cannot afford the care they would need – this is wrong.

The passage of this bill is one small step we are taking to remedy our nation's health care crisis. We still have a long way to go, but this is an encouraging sign for more health care reform for all Americans, not just the wealthy or privileged.

President Bush as promised he will veto this bill, but since it passed Congress with a veto-proof margin, I look forward to taking the final vote to override the President's veto and become law.

Learn more about how local Arkansas pharmacists felt about the issue by following the link below to read the transcript from my online town hall with pharmacists, which took place last spring.

http://www.house.gov/berry/pressreleases/archive/2007/onlinetownhall032807.html

My NATO trip to Europe and Afghanistan

During the Memorial Day recess, I traveled to Germany, Turkey, and Afghanistan as part of an official North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (NATO-PA) diplomatic mission representing the United States.

I traveled with fellow Arkansas representatives Mike Ross and John Boozman, as well several other members of Congress to get a first-hand look at the progress our nation's military and NATO forces are making in the ongoing war against terrorism and in rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan.

During our trip we visited American troops at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and received a briefing from General David Petraeus, Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq, on the current situation in Iraq.

In addition, we met with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan; General Dan McNeill, Commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan; Major General Robert Cone, Commanding General in charge of Afghan National Army and Police Training; and U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan William Wood.

I believe we must have solidarity among our allies in the global community to have peace and security in Afghanistan and the Middle East. Our troops have done an outstanding job standing on the front lines in the fight against terrorism and this visit allowed me to personally express our gratitude for their service to our country.

Although this visit was during the Memorial Day recess, we should never lose sight of our mission to support our troops with all the resources they need while serving our country and do everything in our power to bring them home safely as honored veterans.

The NATO-PA has been in existence since 1955 to build support for the NATO Alliance within the national legislatures and to provide recommendations to the Secretary General of NATO and the North Atlantic Council. It also provides a way for legislators in member countries to influence reform and stay informed about changes in NATO and about military reforms in the 16 associate countries.

This is a photo of fellow Members meeting with General David Petraeus, Commanding General of the Multi-National Force in Iraq and Command Sergeant Major, Marvin L. Hill from Blytheville, Arkansas.

Members of Arkansas Delegation Urge President to Approve Disaster Declaration for State

Late last night I joined with fellow members of the Arkansas Delegation to write a letter to President Bush urging him and FEMA Administrator David Paulison to swiftly consider and approve the state’s request for a federal disaster declaration.

The congressional delegation’s request follows extensive damage as a result of flooding and severe thunderstorms beginning March 18. Additional counties affected by the floods will be added to this request as damage assessments are available.

Below is a copy of the letter we sent:


March 25, 2008





The Honorable George W. Bush

The White House

Washington, D.C. 20500



Dear Mr. President:



We are writing to support Governor Mike Beebe’s request for a Presidential declaration of major disaster for the following counties in the State of Arkansas: Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Clay, Conway, Craighead, Crawford, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Logan, Madison, Marion, Nevada, Newton, Pope, Randolph, Scott, Searcy, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff and Yell.



These counties and others throughout the region suffered extensive damage as a result of flooding and severe thunderstorms beginning March 18 and continuing. Residences, businesses, and public buildings were damaged or destroyed, displacing many residents and causing an unfortunate burden on these communities. As we see in many crises, people have come to the aid of their neighbors, but further assistance is needed in order to help those impacted recover from their losses.



Currently, the State of Arkansas and local communities are beginning the process of recovering from the floods, and many of these communities are still in the process of recovering from the recent federally declared disaster caused by severe storms, tornados, and flooding in February. Pursuant to the provision of Section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, we ask that the State of Arkansas receive a major disaster designation for the damage assessed in the affected counties. As you are probably aware, we represent a predominantly rural state where municipal governments are often ill-equipped to respond to disasters of this magnitude. We have no doubt that all available resources at the state and local level are being used, but federal assistance will be needed to help our communities recover.



We would also like to specifically request that the affected counties in Arkansas be eligible for Individual Assistance, including the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) to include Temporary Housing and assistance with Mobile Homes, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, Crisis Counseling, Public Assistance Grant Program, Hazard Mitigation Statewide, Small Business Administration disaster loans, and Direct Federal Assistance.

Mr. President, we respectfully request your swift consideration and approval of this request. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

America Supports You Caucus

Today, I joined over two dozen bipartisan Members in the House to form the America Supports You Caucus.

This caucus will highlight the America Supports You program, a Department of Defense initiative that connects individuals, organizations, and companies to hundreds of homefront groups that offer a variety of support to the military community.

Through the America Supports You program, people are sending care packages to soldiers, donating airline miles to help reunite returning military men and women with their families, supporting scholarship funds, and building homes for the wounded. These are just a few examples of the work this program is accomplishing for the veterans.

Because our men and women in uniform and their families deserve the best resources available before, during and after their service, I am excited to be a part of this new effort in Congress honoring their sacrifice to our country.

As an example of the positive partnerships resulting from the America Supports You program, John Potter, the Postmaster General recently announced the U.S. Postal Service’s new, larger flat-rate box for packages can be sent to military members and families stationed overseas for a reduced price.

The new Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate box is 50 percent larger than current flat-rate boxes, and for the first time in history, the Postal Service is offering a $2 discount when sending the larger box to an APO/FPO address, enabling customers to send more with one flat price

For more information about the America Supports You program through the Department of Defense or learn how you can get involved, please visit www.americasupportsyou.mil.

Berry Responds to Bush's Final State of the Union Address

The President's Final State of the Union should be a time of reflection and a speech about what we can do to improve our nation. Instead, the President's speech fell far short. Below is my response to his speech.

As President Bush addressed the nation tonight, I couldn't help but reflect on how much has changed in the past 7 years. Today, median household incomes are down over $900 and an additional 1.6 million workers are unemployed since 2001. Gas prices are more than double what they were in 2001, and the cost of food and medicine are rising as well. Today, 47 million Americans (including 8.7 million children) are uninsured, compared to 38 million in 2001. Today, the continued instability in the economy is making it harder for hard-working middle class families to make ends meet. And, finally, a projected $5.6 trillion surplus has turned into a $3.3 trillion deficit, pushing the National Debt to over $9 trillion and hampering the ability to address uncertainty in the economy and to meet urgent priorities.

The American people deserve better. It is time for Congress to step forward and work together pass legislation focused on helping the middle class rather than the special interests. This new session of Congress needs to continue to move in a new direction to refocus our nation's priorities and set an agenda for economic growth.

I have written a letter to Speaker Pelosi outlining the priorities we must address to stabilize and grow the economy. Our struggling economy requires urgent and immediate action, and then sustained attention. By reinvesting in America we can continue to ensure the prosperity of our nation for years to come."

The text of the letter below:

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515


January 28, 2008


Dear Madam Speaker,

As we begin a new session in the 110th Congress I write to thank you for your leadership in taking America in a New Direction. Over the past year Congress has worked to make the issues of working families and the middle class a priority. Although great strides have been made, we still have a lot of work to do.

On the eve of the final State of the Union address from President Bush, both the short-term and long-term economic and budgetary outlooks are at best uncertain. Ordinary Americans have borne the brunt as prices for energy, food, healthcare and education skyrocket while wages remain stagnant. Millions of Americans are one missed payment or one illness away from going from economic insecurity to bankruptcy. I strongly encourage your continued leadership to push for priorities that will benefit the Americans who most need our help.

A critical aspect of boosting the economy is strong investment in infrastructure to promote local job development. The arteries of our economy--our roads, bridges, waterways, airways, and rails--have been neglected for too long. Every dollar spent on transportation and infrastructure spurs local job development. For every billion we spend on infrastructure, nearly 50,000 jobs are created. Many states and local communities could quickly direct new targeted investments to projects that improve our aging infrastructure and create more skilled jobs with higher wages.

Another often forgotten aspect in our nation's priorities is investing in our children. This means providing children with the education and resources they need to succeed and ensuring they have access to healthcare. Children who are sick cannot learn, which is why Congress must work harder to make SCHIP law. Although Congress has passed legislation to lower interest rates on student loans, we must also find more ways to make the dream of a college education a reality for more Americans who cannot afford to attend. By giving our children every opportunity to succeed early in life, we are ensuring the prosperity of our nation in the global community.

Affordable healthcare and access to prescription drugs are more difficult to obtain than ever before. Even though our country is a frontrunner in medical breakthroughs, too many people cannot obtain these life saving medicines and technology simply because they cannot afford it. Denying a patient treatment based on the inability to pay is a tragedy that is affecting too many Americans.

Furthermore, a Farm Bill has yet to become law. Without it, we will not be able to provide our nation with the safest and most secure food and fiber supply. If we are unable to provide our own food for our nation, we risk our national security. Also, in order to increase security, we must reduce our dependence on foreign oil by increasing our efforts to produce alternative fuels. Investing more resources in our biofuels industry will help alleviate rising gas prices and create more jobs in a new and growing market.

Our fiscal situation today is the consequence of living beyond our means and of neglecting priorities. We must act quickly to strengthen the economy, and do so without making our deficits worse and without doing more damage to our long-term fiscal health. The Congressional Budget Office projects the federal government will run a deficit of $219 billion this year, which will increase upon enactment of the stimulus package to correct a faulting economy. This need for emergency spending highlights our challenge going forward to adhere to the pay-as-you-go budget principle we enacted in 2007.

In addition, to an economic stimulus plan, we must take a hard look and reevaluate our nation's economic policies. A shot in the arm for the economy is not a vaccine against failure. It is imperative we work to build a plan that learns from the mistakes of our past, corrects the problems of the present and paves a path of success for our nation's future.

Berry: Our Nation Must Pledge to Leave No Veteran Behind

On this Veterans Day, let us remember their commitment and service to our country. Below is an Op Ed I wrote that ran in the Jonesboro Sun that expresses how thankful we are for their dedication to preserve our freedom.

Article:

Throughout the history of our nation, brave men and women have answered the call of duty to defend our democracy and preserve our freedom. From the War for America's Independence to today’s operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, I am inspired by the courage, professionalism and patriotism of our men and women in uniform as well as their families. We are not just the beneficiaries of their bravery - we are also stewards of their sacrifice.



Each November our country comes together to remember veterans who served their nation and those who paid the ultimate price to preserve our country's freedom. We are eternally thankful for the sacrifices our soldiers and their families make for our country. Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines as well as their families, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly and live so freely.



Unfortunately, many of the veterans who return home find they must wage a new war against the bureaucracy to receive their health care and benefits. In addition, a recent study by the National Alliance to End Homelessness found that although veterans make up only 11 percent of the general adult population, they represent 25 percent of the homeless population. These examples and countless others illustrate that promises have been broken. Any instance where a veteran receives less than the best healthcare and services this country is able to provide is not only shameful – it's wrong.

So many veterans depend on improved care, and we cannot afford to let them be treated as a number instead of the heroes they truly are. Caring for our veterans is a moral obligation our country must repay, and it should be paid promptly.

To begin to fulfill our commitment, this Congress is on course to enact a veterans’ spending bill that provides the largest increase in veterans’ health care in our nation’s history. This investment is in addition to the $5.2 billion added earlier this year to strengthen health care for more than five million veterans. This year Congress has added more than $10 billion in funding to help veterans have access to resources and get the care they need.



These are critical improvements for the thousands of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury, and are in need of better care to successfully rebuild their lives once they return home. We have also passed the Wounded Warriors Assistance Act to address the revelations of problems and gaps in care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other soldiers’ and veterans’ health care facilities across the nation.



To honor all generations of veterans, the House also passed the GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. This demonstrates our promise to invest in veterans’ health care and to strengthen benefits for our men and women in uniform today as well as for the veterans and military retirees who have already served.



The 110th Congress has made strengthening our armed forces and restoring our great military’s capability to protect us against threats throughout the world a top priority. To address this need, we are strengthening force protection for our troops, including providing more body armor and better protected armored vehicles and providing more training for our troops. We are also focusing on rebuilding the National Guard and Reserves, which have made an unprecedented commitment in the Iraq War.



Congress is also working to keep our promises to our troops and their survivors through the bipartisan Defense Appropriations bill, which the House recently passed and we hope the President will sign. The measure increases military pay by 3.5 percent and helps the 60,000 survivors and widows of those who have died from service-connected injuries receive their benefits, which they are currently unable to do because of the Military Families Tax. The bill also makes progress toward ending the Disabled Veterans Tax.



On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind. Let us honor their service with real actions that fulfill our commitment to our troops and their families to show our veterans that we are a grateful nation. On this Veterans Day, we especially honor the more than the 3,800 Americans who have died in Iraq, as well as the 455 who have died in Afghanistan. We also honor the 28,000 U.S. troops wounded in Iraq and the 1,700 wounded in Afghanistan who must adjust to a new and different way of life.



As we celebrate Veterans Day, the thoughts and prayers of all Americans are with the families who have lost a loved one. We pray for our soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and throughout the world and wish them Godspeed in their return to the loving arms of their families. No other group of Americans has stood stronger and braver for our freedom than our troops and veterans. To all the veterans and their families—thank you for your courage, your character, your strength. Every American owes you a debt of gratitude that words cannot repay.

Marion Berry of Gillett represents Arkansas’ 1st Congressional District and is a member of the House Appropriations and Budget Committees.

SCHIP and Tour of The Learning Center in Jonesboro

Today, I toured The Learning Center in Jonesboro and met with the administrators and families to discuss the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). After the meeting, I spoke with the families, community leaders, and reporters to further highlight the importance of the legislation for the local community.

For 10 years, this program has successfully given children, who would otherwise not have the opportunity, the medical care and attention they need. This legislation will give states the resources to help low-income children gain access to immunizations, medicines, and other valuable healthcare services enabling them to grow up healthy and strong. In the long run, it is more cost effective to give children the health insurance and preventative medicine they need, instead of having them resort to the emergency room when they become extremely sick.

Children are our most precious resource and we must do everything we can to preserve their health and well-being. As the debate continues, I will do everything in my power to give our children every opportunity available to ensure they can grow up to become healthy and successful adults. Ensuring that our children have the healthcare they need is a value not only supported by a majority of Americans, it is the right thing to do.