Duckworth, Durbin Host Round Table Discussion on Medicare, Seniors Health Issues

DUCKWORTH, DURBIN HOST ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON MEDICARE, SENIORS HEALTH ISSUES

Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) heard firsthand on Friday from seniors in the 6th Congressional District who are facing challenges accessing the new Medicare prescription drug program created by Congress.

The two leaders conducted a roundtable discussion Friday at the Asbury Court Retirement Community in Des Plaines, where seniors shared with them their frustrations about the new Medicare Part D program as well as other concerns about the nation's health care system.
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Duckworth has made health care one of her top issues since announcing her campaign in December.

"All Americans deserve affordable, quality health care," she said. "When it comes to our nation's seniors, we have a particular obligation to ensure that they have access to the life-saving medications that they need to cure their ailments."

"Instead, Congress has given them a highly-flawed and complex new program that is itself in need of a cure," she added.

On Friday, she pointed out that the new Medicare law is especially flawed because it prohibits the government from negotiating for better prices-- even though the VA uses its bulk purchasing power to get better rates.

Duckworth said that she would fight for several changes to the new rules, including:

* giving the federal government the ability to negotiate for lower discounts.

* allowing seniors more time to sign-up for the plan of their choice, without incurring financial penalties.

* calling on the federal government to reimburse states that have stepped in to cover gaps.

Durbin is an original co-sponsor of legislation in the U.S. Senate that would address many of the problems faced by seniors. The bill, the Requiring Emergency Pharmaceutical Access for Individual Relief (REPAIR) Act, would require all prescription drug plans to provide new enrollees with at least 30 days of prescription drugs during their transition to Medicare.

Duckworth's focus on health care has been among the reasons she has picked up support from major statewide organizations, including the state AFL-CIO, which represents more than 36,000 workers in the 6th District. Other unions endorsing her campaign include the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT).

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