KILPATRICK INTRODUCES AMENDMENT TO EXPAND MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick has introduced legislation to offer America’s seniors real relief from sky-high prescription drug costs.

Kilpatrick introduced an amendment to the Budget Resolution bill that would provide $350 billion for a prescription drug plan for Medicare seniors over five years, beginning in fiscal year 2003. Without the amendment, the bill offers $350 billion over 10 years. Kilpatrick’s amendment also explicitly blocks the use of the Medicare reserve fund for anything other than a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Kilpatrick said her amendment will do more to help seniors pay for costly prescription drugs.

“The current budget resolution proposal to provide $350 billion over 10 years to fund Medicare reform and provide a prescription drug coverage is simply not going to allow us to deliver on our word to seniors,” Kilpatrick said. “First off, the reserve fund is not going to be used solely for a prescription drug benefit. The funds that potentially will be targeted towards a prescription drug plan would require unaffordable premiums, deductibles, and a high catastrophic cap. Many of our seniors would probably not be able to afford this and many other seniors would not see much of a benefit to participate in this type of plan.”

Kilpatrick said a Medicare prescription drug benefit is long overdue.

“We all know how costly prescription drugs are for seniors -- especially those living on a fixed monthly income,” Kilpatrick said. “Many of my constituents spend upwards of $2,500 annually for their medication. The seniors in my district are not unlike other seniors across the nation.

“If we are sincere about our commitment to help seniors, we need to show it not only in our words, but also in the numbers that we are laying out in the budget resolution this week. Reserving $350 billion for a prescription drug benefit for FY2003-2007 would accomplish the goal of providing a meaningful prescription drug benefit and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment,” Congresswoman Kilpatrick said.

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