Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007

MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE NEGOTIATION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - January 12, 2007)

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4, the Medicare part D Government Interference Plan, which is what the Democrats have today.

Mr. Speaker, our colleagues on the other side have made it very clear: They believe that price controls will beat what the marketplace has done, and yet the Congressional Budget Office has clearly said that is not true, there would be no savings.

What would their plan do, Mr. Speaker? They talk about the important part of what the VA does. Of over 3.8 million Medicare eligible beneficiaries enrolled in the VA, over 1 million have opted to participate in part D because it provides more flexibility and choice for the drugs that they want and they need.

Only 38 percent of the drugs that were approved by the FDA in the 1990s and only 19 percent since 2000 are available on the VA formulary. The Democrats want this for our seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that doctors and patients should control the medicines that are available, and I think they should be available to every single senior. We want to make sure that continues. I oppose this bill.

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