Political Quotes

“Mr. President, as the Senate considers the National Defense Authorization Act, or the NDAA, I rise today to discuss a simple amendment in support of my constituents in South Dakota who are military retirees, as well as those in many other States who find themselves in a similar circumstance. These retirees may be disproportionately and unfairly impacted by increases in the TRICARE prescription drug copay increases that we find within the bill that we are considering today. Specifically, provisions in this bill will increase cost-sharing amounts for the TRICARE pharmacy benefits program for the years 2018 through the year 2026. Now, the rationale for the increases in the bill that we are considering today are that the savings generated from pharmaceutical cost-share increases can be used to improve healthcare outcomes and the experience of care for beneficiaries in the military health system, and I support that. I believe in improving the care for beneficiaries in the military health system. But in this particular case, the increased TRICARE pharmacy copays must be carefully considered to make certain that they could not disproportionately impact one part of the beneficiary population.…”