“Medicare has become the bread and butter of senior citizen’s healthcare,” said Rep. Capito.  Because the program plays such an important role in safeguarding the health of our parents and our grandparents, we must act now to reform the system to include a prescription drug benefit.”

“80 percent of our retirees use prescription drugs every day, and too many seniors are forced to adopt a “sink or swim” mentality when it comes to paying for their prescription drugs,” said Rep. Capito.

In her letter to Speaker Hastert, Congresswoman Capito referenced the numerous prescription drug benefit plans ready for debate, and urged the Speaker to take up the issue as soon as possible. 

“America’s senior citizens are in desperate need of reform and fast.  No one should have to choose between heating their house or buying their prescribed medication.  This has gone on long enough.  American’s seniors are entitled to fair and just prescription drug prices.”

In July, Congresswoman Capito and Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL) introduced a plan to provide immediate prescription drug relief to seniors.  The plan, called the Medicare Prescription Drug Card Program, offers seniors the option to purchase their drugs at a discounted rate and capping the total amount spent by low-income seniors.

March 4, 2002

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H-232 Capitol
Washington, DC  20515
 

Dear Mr. Speaker:

 I am writing to strongly encourage that Leadership move to the floor for passage a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan before the end of this year.  Since prescription drug coverage is an essential part of any healthcare plan and because Medicare doesn’t cover prescription drugs, the group that relies on prescription drugs the most - Americans over 65 - are the least likely to have help with the cost of their medications and therefore the group most in need of help. 

American consumers spent over $100 billion on prescription drugs last year, which is more than double what the nation spent on drugs in the 1990’s. The increase reflects growth in the availability and use of prescription drugs and also a steep surge (twice the rate of overall inflation) in the price of commonly used drugs.  While 70% of Medicare beneficiaries have some type of drug coverage, it's often inadequate, being cut back, or becoming more and more expensive each year.  A Families USA report illustrated the problem as follows: A widow living on $12,525 a year (150% of the poverty level) who has acid reflux disease would spend about $1,455 or 12% of her income on medicine. Unfortunately, this example is all too familiar in my district as well as the entire United States.
  
Mr. Speaker, currently there are several Medicare Prescription Drug measures to debate and I would urge you to place this issue on highest priority.  America’s senior citizens are in desperate need of reform and fast.  No one should have to choose between heating their house or buying their prescribed medication.  This has gone on long enough.  American’s seniors are entitled to fair and just prescription drug prices.

                                                        Sincerely,
 

                                                        Shelley Moore Capito, M.C.