Frank Pallone: “Well, I just wanted to talk a little bit about prevention, and particularly in terms of seniors, which you mentioned…”

“Well, I just wanted to talk a little bit about prevention, and particularly in terms of seniors, which you mentioned, and what it means in terms of people's health and also the cost to the government, because some of the things that we've mentioned with regard to seniors have already taken place. This summer under the bill, seniors who fell into the doughnut hole got a $250 rebate. Beginning January 1, they get a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs if they fall into the doughnut hole in 2011. You mentioned the copays for preventative care, whether it's your annual wellness treatment or other kinds of tests like mammograms or colonoscopies, for example. The reason that we are eliminating the 20 percent copay for these things, the reason we are trying to fill up the doughnut hole, it all goes back to prevention. Because if people get their drugs and they don't end up getting sick and going to the hospital, if they get these tests or they have the annual wellness checks, they stay healthy, they don't go to the hospital. And when they go to the hospital, if they are on Medicare, it just costs the government more money. So this is the way we save money. We save money. And what does that mean? It means that the debt is decreased. It means that the solvency of Medicare you have on the chart is extended.”