Hilda L. Solis: “on behalf of 70,000 eligible Medicare beneficiaries in the 32nd Congressional District of California, I rise to strongly…”

“on behalf of 70,000 eligible Medicare beneficiaries in the 32nd Congressional District of California, I rise to strongly support this legislation to reduce the cost of prescription drugs through negotiated pricing. As a result of the Medicare Modernization Act, millions of low-income and minority seniors pay higher prices for their prescriptions. A recent report by Families USA revealed that the lowest Medicare part D plan drugs are still 58 percent higher than the lowest prices offered by those with the authority to negotiate, like the Department of Veterans Affairs. Negotiated pricing is the difference between receiving needed medicine and putting food on the table. This is a reality for one in five Latinos above the age of 65 who live in poverty. Latinos are the fastest growing sector of the senior population. As chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Health, I am concerned that without negotiated drug prices, Latino seniors will be unable to afford their medication and continue to suffer needlessly from chronic health diseases. The overwhelming majority of Americans favor allowing the government to negotiate prescription drug prices for the Medicare program.”