About Us

Mission

Research

Advocacy

Collaboration

Comments

Newsletter

Links

Home

A privately administered drug benefit would be particularly problematic. If private insurers carry the risk for drug costs, they will probably structure their plans in ways that put high users of drugs at a disadvantage. For example, they can establish a list of preferred drugs (a formulary) and either not cover certain drugs or charge more for drugs that are not on the list. There are, for example, many anti-cholesterol drugs, but a formulary may not include the drug that works best for a particular patient. Consumers who need many drugs are likely to find it hard to decipher which medications the plans will cover and at what cost.

Ultimately, lawmakers and the rest of us must decide whether we trust government to deliver a new drug benefit effectively. What we do know is that the need for drug coverage is too great to let this issue remain unresolved.

(From the New York Times, July 20, 2002)
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/29/opinion/29MOON.html

It appears that no Prescription Drug coverage or Patients' Rights bill will be passed this year. Again our representatives have failed to join together and pass these two important bills for all and not only seniors who have become scapegoats in this power struggle.

Representative Daschle is quoted as saying "The bill was written by drug companies and will be administered by insurance companies". And Representative Doggett compared the bills to Swiss cheese saying "but seniors get all the holes and no cheese".

It is important that we continue to send to our representatives in our state capital and Washington our emails, faxes and postcards otherwise they will believe we have accepted their decisions.

Anna T. Boyce, R.N. (Ret.)
Senior Assemblywoman, California Senior Legislature
Senior Congresswoman,
National Silver Haired Congress, September 2002

"Senator Craig has joined with President Bush in advocating for adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, for seniors in need, while at the same time reforming the system to make it more user friendly for both the elderly and medical providers."

From: New Report on Medicare and Social Security
Craig _Aging News@Aging.senate.gov

"To be affordable and sustainable, Medicare prescription drug coverage must have strong measures to contain rising drug costs. As health care consumers, we all have a role to play. AARP will answer the call by launching...a Wise Use of Medications Campaign to educate people about the wise and safe use of medications-including generic drugs.

Increasingly, the 85 percent of people 65-plus today who are taking at least one prescription drug are not realizing the full benefits of their medications because they're not taking them as directed. In fact, people do not comply with the directions as much as half the time...

At the same time, it is estimated that the proper use of generic drugs under a Medicare drug benefit could save the program up to $100 billion over ten years...especially important because today's advertising for name-brand drugs often seems to suggest that they are the only therapy, even when there are less expensive alternatives that could work just as well."

From the AARP Bulletin.

"We don't just need a Medicare drug benefit! We need universal health insurance, equity, fairness and coverage for all, including prescription medications, necessary medical, dental, mental health and hospital care, and long-term care. We are paying for it, but we're not getting it. No amount of tinkering with our broken health care system will give us what we need. Incrementalism does not work. Half-way measures will not help. Two-tiered systems are intrinsically unjust and unworkable. It's time for the U.S. voter to let politicians know - we're sick and tired of your games, and we won't stand for it any longer!
(Ed.)

Return to Front Page