Wednesday, June 26, 2002
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Wednesday, June 26, 2002 |
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Collins speaks out on prescription plan
WASHINGTON Calling for a less expensive solution to address the need for improved access to prescription drugs for seniors, U.S. Rep. Mac Collins issued the following statement this week: "There can be no doubt about the sad state of affairs faced by 12 million senior citizens in our nation. Daily, many of these seniors must make a wrenching choice between food, shelter, or life-saving medicine. This condition grieves me and it is imperative that Congress address it immediately. "However, the current proposals before Congress create a universal entitlement approach to the problem. Rather than providing access for seniors in need, it creates a program where the government becomes a pharmacy benefit manager, negotiating drug prices for all seniors, even for those who are currently satisfied with their private prescription drug coverage. "In his annual budget, President Bush requested $77 billion to provide prescription drugs for those at 170 percent of poverty. I support this request, as well as the need for overall Medicare modernization. But the plans which will be considered by Congress this week go far beyond the need to provide access and assistance for those seniors who cannot afford prescription drugs. Instead, the proposals create potentially open-ended entitlements which will threaten the prescription drug coverage for many seniors who are currently satisfied with their current benefit. "According to the Congressional Budget Office, the primary proposal under consideration will result in about one-third of those seniors who currently have prescription drug benefits, either through their retirement plans or through a private insurer, to be dropped from their current plan. Congress should not do anything that would result in seniors losing this coverage. "Since the triple threat of attacks on our nation, a war against terror, and a slumping economy, we do not have the means to provide and administer a universal prescription drug entitlement program. We are currently projecting a budget deficit potentially as high as $150 billion for fiscal year 2002. Although it is necessary to defend our country and stimulate our economy, the current situation does not lend itself to a drug program of this scope. It would be irresponsible, and I cannot support either plan currently being debated in Congress. "Let me be very clear about what this does not mean. It does not mean that I am in favor of depriving seniors of life-saving medication. What it means is that I believe there is a better, more efficient way to provide prescription drug access to the seniors who need them most. It is time for Congress to lay aside its political pandering, and implement sound policy that gets to the heart of the matter getting seniors the medicine they need."
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