Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the FIX Medicare Part D Act today in the House of Representatives to aid senior citizens and address the problems of the Medicare Part D prescription drug program.  The bill would reform Medicare Part D using a three-pronged approach – requiring Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices with drug manufacturers, allowing the importation of prescription drugs to the U.S., and extending the initial enrollment period to December 31, 2006.

“The FIX Medicare Part D Act will help seniors get lower drug prices, gain access to safe and affordable drugs in Canada, and have more time to select the prescription drug plan that best fits their needs.  This legislation gives hope to our seniors who are struggling to pay for their medications,” Larsen said.

In December of last year, Larsen held several town hall meetings for senior citizens to voice their apprehensions with the Medicare Part D program that was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2006. 

“Washington state’s seniors gave me a clear message at town hall meetings across my district: Bring down the skyrocketing costs of our prescription drugs,” Larsen stressed. “The FIX Medicare Part D Act is an answer to the primary concerns I heard at these meetings,” Larsen said.

“Unlike the flawed legislation that created the program as it is now, the FIX bill was written by seniors and Medicare beneficiaries - not profit-hungry pharmaceutical companies,” Larsen said.

The Medicare Part D program is a voluntary prescription drug benefit for seniors enrolled in Medicare.  Under the program, seniors select from a list of private prescription drug plans.  There are 21 plans to choose from in Washington state.  Eligible seniors have until May 15, 2006 to enroll for coverage this year.  Failure to enroll by this date will result in higher premium payments. 

“Medicare Part D is a complicated plan and we should give our seniors a reasonable deadline to make this important decision.  The FIX Medicare Part D Act extends the approaching May 15th deadline to December 31, 2006.” Larsen said.

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 430,000 of the one million Medicare beneficiaries in Washington state have some form of prescription drug coverage.  Of those, only 61,233 have voluntarily enrolled in Part D.

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