Ed Whitfield: “Today represents the culmination of 4 to 5 years of Congress' efforts to provide a prescription drug benefit for senior…”

“Today represents the culmination of 4 to 5 years of Congress' efforts to provide a prescription drug benefit for senior citizens on Medicare. Two years ago, the House of Representatives passed a prescription drug benefit for senior citizens. Last year we did the same. The Senate did not do it the year before, nor did they do it last year; but this year both the House and the Senate will pass a prescription drug benefit. This is a meaningful plan. It is going to provide basically free medicines for any senior citizen on Medicare who is at 135 percent of the poverty level and below. The only thing they will be expected to pay is a small $2 copay for generic drugs and a small $5 copay for name-brand drugs. I would also say the fact that this bill would provide catastrophic coverage for seniors is going to be a tremendous benefit. It will give them the peace of mind to know that no matter how high their drug costs may be, at some point the Federal Government will pay for all of it, the taxpayers will pay for all of it.”