Letter to Senator Peter J. Roskam
March 5, 2006
State Senator Peter J. Roskam
423 W. Wesley
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
Dear Senator Roskam:
It has come to my attention that you are planning to host a forum in my hometown of Hoffman Estates this coming Monday to discuss seniors' health issues and the new Medicare Part D program. I also understand that, later that same evening, you will be holding a political fundraiser with House Speaker Dennis Hastert in downtown Chicago.
I can tell you from my experienceas I have discussed this issue with seniors on many occasions during the past several monthsthat problems with the new Medicare Part D program are among the most urgent concerns facing seniors in the 6th Congressional District. Many seniors and their families have experienced great confusion and frustration as they try to access prescription drug benefits under this highly flawed program. Many of these problems can be attributed to the central role that lobbyists for the big drug companies played in writing the new law, which has resulted in a program that puts their interests ahead of the interests of seniors and taxpayers.
To address the concerns, I have made the following proposals:
Repeal the provision that bars Medicare from using its bulk purchasing power to negotiate with the drug companies for lower prices, as the Veterans Administration does. This could save seniors - and taxpayers - billions of dollars.
Repair the so-called "Part D doughnut"an arbitrary and illogical gap that adds to the confusion and fear facing so many seniors. The "doughnut" leaves seniors without any coverage when their out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs fall between $2,250 and $5,100.
Allow seniors more time to sign up for the plan of their choice. Under current law, seniors who haven't chosen a plan by May 15th face a penalty that some are characterizing as a "complexity tax."
Require all prescription drug plans to provide new enrollees with at least 30 days of prescription drugs during their transition to Medicare. This provision will protect seniors who have been denied prescription coverage, as well as states - like Illinois - that have been forced to fill in the gap.
To date, I have not heard you discuss the problems with the Medicare Part D program or your position on it. I hope you will take the opportunity of the forum that you are sponsoring on Monday to publicly state whether you support the current program or whether you have proposals for repairing it. The voters of the 6th District deserve that information as they struggle with a program that was ill-thought out and ill-designed.
Despite the many and well-publicized problems with the new Medicare Plan D plan, the Bush Administration and leaders of Congress have so far refused to revisit that program and pass the kinds of constructive changes I've outlined above. As you will be appearing with Speaker Hastert at a political fundraiser on Monday evening following your Medicare forum, I urge you to take that opportunity to ask him to schedule House action soon to correct the problems with the Part D program.
Along with the voters of the 6th District, I look forward to your Monday forum as an opportunity to learn where you stand on the Medicare Part D program and your specific proposals for how to fix its many flaws. In addition, I hope you will impress on Speaker Hastert the need for Congress to quickly revisit the Part D program when he appears at your political fundraiser on Monday night.
Sincerely,
Tammy Duckworth
http://www.duckworthforcongress.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=15