(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Dennis Moore (Democrat -- Kansas) and Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson (Republican -- Missouri) reintroduced bipartisan legislation today that would reduce the cost of prescription drugs for seniors by giving the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services authority to negotiate lower prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries.

“The new prescription drug law prohibits Medicare from negotiating with drug companies for lower prices, just as the Veterans Administration does for American veterans and health insurance companies do for employer-based health plans,” Moore said. “Currently, each of the 44 million Medicare beneficiaries in America is an individual buying group, giving our seniors no leverage to negotiate for better prices.”

“It is inconsistent and inaccurate to say we cannot negotiate prescription drug prices for our Medicare beneficiaries when we do so for 34 million DoD and military retirees. Taxpayers deserve the best return on their money, and American seniors need the advocacy of a system that ought to put their health before the well-being of the pharmaceutical industry. The MEDS Act is a simple, bipartisan way to change how we represent the best interests of the American people. At the same time, it is a necessary reform to reduce prices for seniors who depend upon medication for their good health,” Emerson said.

Already, the bill is cosponsored by a coalition of both Republicans and Democrats, including: Representatives Dan Burton (R-IN), Jim Davis (D-FL), Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), Jim Ramstad (R- MN), Mike Ross (D-AR) and Zach Wamp (R-TN).

When Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced his resignation in December 2004, he spoke out against the provisions in the new Medicare law barring him from negotiating with drug companies for lower consumer prices.

“I would like to have had the opportunity to negotiate,” he said.

In the last Congress, Moore and Emerson garnered the support of 177 bipartisan cosponsors for identical legislation. The bill also was endorsed by the American Nurses Association, American Public Health Association, National Council on Independent Living and the National Education Association.

“We need to put aside our differences and work together to address the pivotal issue: the high cost of prescription drugs,” Moore said. “Passing our bill is a simple way to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for seniors.”