Issue Position: Prescription Drugs

Issue Position

My Agenda:

- Give seniors greater access to the benefits and drugs they need

- Let choose their own individual prescription drug plan

More Access At Lower Costs

Like millions of other senior citizens, my 91-year-old mother has experienced various health struggles over the past few years. As a result, my family has closely followed the rise in prescription drug costs and experienced firsthand the battle many seniors go through to obtain the best health care and prescription drugs available.

Seniors on Medicare should have the right to choose a prescription medication plan that meets their needs and provides access to the newest prescription drugs on the market. The current Medicare Part D prescription medication plan saved the average senior citizen nearly $1,100 on medication costs in 2006, while providing seniors access to a wide range of cutting-edge, life-saving medications.

I strongly spoke out against proposed changes to limit senior's access to life-savings drugs in 2007. Any attempt to "fix' the medication plan through a government-run program will only damage the accessibility of prescription medications, make the approval process less transparent and ultimately undermine the rights of Medicare patients to freely choose a prescription medication plan that best meets their needs.

While in Congress, I will continue to fight to ensure our seniors have more access at lower costs for their prescription drugs. America needs an effective drug plan for our senior citizens. After all, it's the least we can do to give them what they deserve.

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