Political Quotes

“this has been a disappointing week in Washington for seniors around the country. Not only are we voting on a bill that provides a meager prescription drug benefit through Medicare, but the once-regarded AARP has apparently put their profit margins before the health of the seniors by endorsing this Republican Prescription Drug bill. There are so many disturbing provisions in this bill that I will only take the time to mention a couple. This bill explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Health and Human Services from negotiating lower drug prices on behalf of America's 40 million Medicare beneficiaries. With my support, the Veterans' Administration adopted this practice some time ago, and the VA enjoys the ability to negotiate drug prices for numbers of veterans. This restriction on the Secretary of Health and Human Services clearly crimps efforts to keep prices down for seniors. Another troubling provision is the 'demonstration project' in this bill that coerces seniors out of the traditional Medicare program they know and enjoy to sign on with an HMO. Up to 7 million seniors may be forced to choose between staying in Medicare and purchasing a likely expensive drug-only plan from a private insurer or leaving their trusted doctors to join an HMO or other plan that would provide Medicare-like benefits including drug coverage. This is hardly a choice for our nation's greatest generation.…”