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Washington, D.C.- Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) criticized the GOP’s prescription drug plan today as the latest attempt to privatize and dismantle Medicare. Kildee expressed his disappointment today that the Republican drug plan fails to target the real problem of rising drug costs and jeopardizes current drug coverage for many seniors.
“We need to provide seniors with a prescription drug benefit that is affordable, comprehensive and guaranteed,” said Kildee. “Unfortunately, the House Republicans have created a bill that provides an inadequate prescription drug benefit, fails to lower drug costs, and weakens the current Medicare system. I am absolutely confident that this is the wrong plan for America’s seniors because it seeks to dismantle an entitlement program that nearly all seniors have relied on for almost four decades.”
The Republican prescription drug plan harms seniors by:
· Allowing drug companies profits to skyrocket at the expense of patients by specifically prohibiting Medicare from negotiating lower prices from drug companies.
· Providing an incentive for employers to drop the coverage they are currently providing to nearly 3 million seniors.
· Blocking re-importation of US-made drugs from other countries at lower prices.
· Imposing for the first time in history an unfair means test that disqualifies millions of seniors from Medicare if they have modest savings.
· Forcing millions of seniors to pay more for Medicare if they don’t give up their doctor and join an HMO.
· Creating a coverage gap that will leave half of seniors without drug coverage for part of the year by forcing them to pay 100% of of all drug costs from $2250 up to $5100.
· Giving private insurance plans a $12 billion payoff that encourages them to “cherry-pick” healthier and wealthier seniors from Medicare, while leaving the more needy in an under funded Medicare program.
Regrettably, the AARP endorsed the Republican plan even though they have openly expressed a number of legitimate concerns regarding the Republican approach. Several months ago, the AARP announced that it would not endorse the Republican bill unless coverage gaps and means testing were removed from the plan. Surprisingly, the AARP still endorsed the Republican plan even though those provisions were never eliminated. Fortunately, many other senior advocacy groups including, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and the Alliance for Retired Americans recognize the flaws in this proposal and oppose the Republican plan.
“The Republican bill should be sent back to the drawing board so we can deliver a real benefit that maintains Medicare’s promise to senior citizens,” said Kildee. “I will not vote to destroy a program that seniors have relied on for nearly 40 years in exchange for a feeble prescription drug benefit.”
Congressman Kildee is a cosponsor of the Democratic prescription drug benefit plan, which is voluntary and universally available to every senior regardless of income or location. The Democratic plan guarantees an affordable premium and continuous coverage without privatizing Medicare. Regrettably, the House Republican Leadership blocked every attempt to bring this proposal to the House floor for a vote. Kildee will continue to work to create a comprehensive prescription drug benefit that will not harm traditional Medicare benefits. |
