Mark Udall: “I want to support a Medicare drug bill, but I can't support this bill. Instead of giving us a foundation to build on, I…”

“I want to support a Medicare drug bill, but I can't support this bill. Instead of giving us a foundation to build on, I believe it will compromise the effectiveness of a very popular healthcare program for seniors in order to deliver an inadequate, unreliable and unfair drug benefit. Under this bill seniors will pay higher premiums, higher deductibles and higher prices for drugs. It will force seniors into HMOs, and millions of seniors will lose drug benefits that they get through their retirement plans. Instead of crafting a drug bill, the Republican leadership has used the opportunity to dismantle Medicare and turn it over to private insurance and drug companies. I have long believed that Congress should act to help seniors with their prescription drug expenses. Congress should give seniors greater choice in coverage, but it should not force seniors into HMOs in order to get a drug benefit. Colorado could be chosen as part of the demonstration project under this bill, which would force seniors into HOMs in order to get the drug benefit. According to a recent analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services, most seniors would see increases in their premiums with some facing increases as high as 88 percent. Colorado seniors would pay some of the highest premiums in the country. For example, seniors in Adams County, CO would pay $100 a month while seniors in some parts of North Carolina will pay $58 a month.”