Durbin Says Illinois Seniors Demanding Congressional Action to Fix Medicare Drug Benefit

DURBIN SAYS ILLINOIS SENIORS DEMANDING CONGRESSIONAL ACTION TO FIX MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT

After hearing from Illinois seniors and pharmacists last week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said Congress must improve the Medicare drug benefit that shortchanges beneficiaries while rewarding pharmaceutical and insurance companies with billions in taxpayer dollars.

"Senior after senior has told me this new prescription drug law is a complicated mess that has them confused and worried. For too many seniors in Illinois, the ‘D' in Medicare Part D now stands for disappointment and disaster," Durbin said. "It is time for Congressional leaders to start listening to pharmacists, not lobbyists."

Across the country, House and Senate Democrats held more than 100 events in their districts and states on the controversial drug benefit program, and offered seniors and persons with disabilities a series of legislative proposals to improve it.

While holding events in Collinsville, Decatur, Lincoln, Peoria, Chicago and Northbrook, Durbin called on Congress to pass his legislation designed to protect seniors and people with disabilities from the fluctuating drug prices and formulary changes that threaten to wreak havoc on their budgets. Called the Medicare Drug Honest Pricing Act, Durbin's legislation would allow Medicare beneficiaries to switch plans during the year if their drug prices increase by 10 percent or more, or if the drugs covered under their plan changes.

"Drug companies and HMOs are guaranteed billions of dollars from the federal government, but seniors are guaranteed a headache if they sign up for the wrong plan," Durbin said, pointing to recent comments by a leading academic expert on the industry who forecasted that drug companies will make as much as $40 billion over the next ten years in windfall profits.

Durbin noted that giving Medicare the authority to negotiate directly for better drug prices and giving seniors a choice to receive a drug benefit from Medicare is what many seniors in Illinois want. A recent study found that drug prices offered by ten leading private drug plans under the Medicare drug program are more than 80 percent higher than the prices negotiated by the Veterans' Administration.

"A Medicare drug benefit for seniors must be simple, efficient and convenient. The private plans have failed on all counts. It is time to put Medicare in charge so seniors can have a fair, reliable and affordable drug benefit," Durbin said.

Durbin also highlighted the Democrats' "Prescription for Change" proposals to the Medicare drug benefit during his statewide tour last week. One proposal, the Medicare Informed Choice Act, will give seniors and people with disabilities the time they need to navigate the confusing enrollment process, extending the deadline to sign up for a plan until the end of 2006. Another bill will ensure that seniors and people with disabilities immediately receive the drugs they need at prices they can afford under the terms of coverage they have been promised.

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