Durbin Statement on HHS Secretary Leavitt's Visit to Chicago

DURBIN STATEMENT ON HHS SECRETARY LEAVITT'S VISIT TO CHICAGO

Thursday, July 21, 2005

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement regarding U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Michael Leavitt's visit to Chicago to tout President Bush's Medicare plan, which will take affect later this year. Durbin is the sponsor of legislation in the Senate that would allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices on behalf of seniors:

"Seniors in Chicago need a Medicare plan that actually lowers the cost of their prescriptions for the next 20 years. The President's plan, which Secretary Leavitt is promoting, is not the answer."

"Come November, seniors in Chicago and all across America will have to wade through at least four different Medicare HMO plans and 17 prescription drug plans - each with different premiums, deductibles and drug coverage options. Seniors will have their hands full trying to figure out which is the best deal."

"Instead of simply allowing seniors to take their Medicare card to the pharmacy, the Bush Administration chose to turn this program over to the private sector. Instead of allowing Secretary Leavitt to negotiate with drug companies for lower cost prescriptions, the Bush Administration prohibited Medicare from negotiating on behalf of all seniors and left the job of negotiating prices to the insurance companies."

"Seniors deserve better. They deserve a simple, unified and comprehensive benefit."

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=241179&&