Neal Dunn: “later this week we will have an opportunity to keep our promises to seniors. For too long our parents and our…”

“later this week we will have an opportunity to keep our promises to seniors. For too long our parents and our grandparents have been paying too much for prescription drugs. This problem is much more acute for low-income seniors, especially women. Women represent more than half the seniors with incomes that are less than 135 percent of the poverty level. They live longer than men, they spend more on health care, and they are more likely to suffer from chronic medical conditions. In essence, women need more drugs for a longer period of time but are least likely to be able to afford them. This prescription drug bill will help those on fixed incomes. A woman with an income of less than $13,000 today will receive full assistance. No premiums, no deductibles, no gap in coverage. Furthermore, disease management programs will help women who are suffering from multiple chronic diseases. It will help them receive better care from health professionals who can coordinate their medical needs. Mr. Speaker, it is time to end the rhetoric and deliver on a promise.”