| WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Marion Berry (D-AR, 1st) offered an amendment on the House floor today that would reform the Republican-backed prescription drug benefit to eliminate confusion and lower the price of prescription drugs. The amendment, which Republican leaders ruled out of order on procedural grounds, is Congressman Berry's latest attempt to prevent Republican leaders from giving drug companies complete control over the Medicare prescription drug program.
"It defies logic that our Republican leaders refuse to take this opportunity and provide America's greatest generation with a prescription drug benefit that makes sense," said Congressman Berry. "Our seniors deserve better than this. They helped build this country, fought two world wars, and should get a fair benefit that puts their interests before those of pharmaceutical companies."
Congressman Berry's amendment would reform the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug benefit by establishing a Medicare-administered drug plan. This would give seniors an option they can trust and require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower drug prices on behalf of all the seniors enrolled. Berry's amendment is identical to legislation he introduced with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Congressman Tom Allen (D-ME) with the support of Democratic leadership.
Today's amendment would also extend the enrollment period for the prescription drug benefit through 2006 and give seniors the option of changing plans once without suffering any penalties. Under the Republican-passed law, seniors will have to pay a penalty fee if they register after May 15, 2006 and do not have the option of changing plans until the next enrollment period.
"We can provide better drug coverage, better health care, and save the government a minimum of $40 billion a year by enacting this legislation," said Congressman Berry. "We are not trying to take away any of the current options, just give seniors a choice they can actually trust."
A report released last month by the Center for Economic Policy Research found that Congressman Berry's plan to establish a voluntary drug benefit under Medicare would save the government at least $40 billion a year if half of all beneficiaries participated in the Medicare-administered plan. The savings would come from lower drug prices through price negotiation and lower administrative costs. The report also found that specific provisions in the current Medicare benefit inserted by Republican leaders to please the pharmaceutical companies will actually cost taxpayers and seniors more than $80 billion a year. |
