(ALBANY, NEW YORK): - Congressman Michael R. McNulty today applauded the efforts of local senior citizen advocacy groups and reiterated his support for a prescription drug benefit under Medicare that significantly reduces the cost of prescription drugs for all seniors.

"Providing affordable prescription drugs to seniors is long overdue," said McNulty. "I strongly support a Medicare prescription drug benefit. The elderly and disabled of the Capital District have waited long enough for relief from the high cost of prescribed medications."

"Now is the time to act," McNulty stressed. "The plan presented by House Republicans offers no defined benefit, no guaranteed premiums, no guaranteed access and inadequate protections for low-income seniors. On the other hand, my Democratic colleagues and I have put forth strong, common sense legislation to address America's prescription drug crisis and help seniors avoid having to choose between buying groceries or taking the medication their doctors prescribe.

The Medicare Rx Benefit and Discount Act will make prescription drugs available under Medicare and will guarantee lower prices for these drugs. The House Democratic proposal adds a new Part D in Medicare that would provide voluntary prescription drug coverage for all Medicare beneficiaries beginning in 2005. Under this legislation, a beneficiary would pay a $25 monthly premium, an annual $100 deductible, 20% co-insurance -- and a mechanism to ensure that no beneficiary ever spends more than $2,000 a year on prescription drugs. The bill reduces prices for prescription drugs by requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate discounted drug prices for Medicare beneficiaries.

McNulty said, "It is embarrassing that seniors in the Capital Region must rely on bus trips to Canada to purchase reasonably priced prescription drugs in an effort to save money and stay healthy."

"I enthusiastically add my voice to the StateWide Senior Action Council's call upon the Republican leadership in Congress to shelve their inadequate Medicare prescription drug plan and consider the reasonable proposal put forward by Democrats in the House," he added. "Our seniors have waited long enough."