Steve Buyer: “the measure before the House tonight, the conference agreement on the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act…”

“the measure before the House tonight, the conference agreement on the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act, H.R. 1, is not a perfect bill. But, it is also not the bill that I opposed several months ago when the House first considered the measure. As with any conference agreement, this bill is a product of compromise and negotiations. It is an improvement in the House-passed bill in some respects, a disappointment in others. Nonetheless, I think it is time to end the debate on a prescription drug plan in Medicare and move forward. While this bill has some troubling flaws, it does take major steps forward in improving access to health care of our nation's seniors. It serves as a blueprint for enhancements to Medicare that will enable Congress to resolve the long-term solvency issues in Medicare's structure. Reform cannot occur in a vacuum. We must be vigilant as we take these necessary steps to reform Medicare to provide greater choice and health care services to beneficiaries. This measure will require close scrutiny by Congress to oversee the implementation of the drug plan to insure that it provides cost containment and prevention of drug overutilization. The provisions before us to enhance Medicare are likely to require annual maintenance by Congress.”