Political Quotes

“Senator Snowe and I are once again teaming up to work on a bipartisan commonsense proposal to help America's seniors receive affordable prescription drugs. Our bill, "The Medicare Enhancement for Needed Drugs Act" or "MEND Act" focuses on cost containment. At our request, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently reviewed drug cost trends. For 77 prescription drugs frequently used by seniors on Medicare the usual and customary price increased 21.8 percent from January 2000 through June 2004, a 4.6 percent average annual rate of increase. They also found that the process for the brand drugs increased 26.4 percent for that same time period whereas prices for generic drugs increased 8.3 percent. We need to make sure that Medicare has every weapon in its arsenal to assure seniors and Medicare get the best deal possible on prescription drug prices. One of the most important tools for Medicare to use to assure better prescription drug prices for seniors is bargaining power. That tool is missing from the legislation Congress passed in 2003. The legislation that Senator Snowe and I are introducing today, the MEND Act, would provide the Secretary of Health and Human Services that tool. As responsible stewards of the taxpayers' money, Congress must provide Medicare all the tools, including bargaining power, in its cost containment arsenal.”