Mark Udall: “I want to support a Medicare prescription drug bill, but I can't support the one we are considering today. It is…”

“I want to support a Medicare prescription drug bill, but I can't support the one we are considering today. It is inadequate, unreliable, will force seniors into HMOs, and will endanger drug benefits that many seniors get through their retirement plans. In fact, instead of drafting a Medicare drug benefit bill, the Republican Majority has used this opportunity to try to end Medicare as we know it. I have long believed that Congress should act to help seniors with their prescription drug expenses. Nearly everyone agrees that Medicare should be updated with a drug benefit; it is the right and sensible thing to do. How we design that benefit is where the rub is. I had hoped that we would vote on a bill similar to the one in the Senate because I think it's a good start toward building a workable, financially sound prescription drug benefit. But the House bill is not the same as the Senate bill. First, I think Congress should give seniors greater choice in coverage, however, it should provide an equal prescription drug benefit to all beneficiaries, regardless of whether they enroll in a private health plan or traditional fee-for-service Medicare. We shouldn't force seniors into managed care, which I believe this bill will do by opening the traditional Medicare program up to competitive bidding against private insurers in 2010.”