WASHINGTON - Congressman Bernard Sanders (I-VT) has led members of the House Progressive Caucus in unveiling a Medicare prescription drug plan that offers far more comprehensive coverage than the Republican and Democratic proposals at the same overall cost.

By incorporating measures to lower the exorbitant prices Americans pay for prescription drugs, the Progressive Medicare drug benefit plan is able to provide a much stronger benefit. Sanders dismissed the Republican plan as a "non-serious, poll-driven gimmick" which would neither lower the cost of prescription drugs in this country or provide help to those who need it. Sanders and the other members supported the Democratic concept of providing prescription drug benefits within Medicare, but criticized the Democratic proposal as being "far too weak."

Unlike the Democratic proposal which provides a 50/50 cost-share within Medicare, the Progressive plan would provide an 80/20 co-payment approach. Under the Republican proposal, Medicare beneficiaries would pay $1575 as well as a deductible of the first $2000 in prescription drug costs. Under the Democratic plan, beneficiaries would pay $1288 and no deductible. Under the Progressive proposal, beneficiaries would pay only $688 and no deductible - a substantial savings.

U.S. vs. the World: Drug Prices vs. World Health Rank

	Switz.	Sweden	France	Canada	UK	Italy	USA
WOLRD HEALTH RANK	2nd	4th	6th	7th	9th	11th	15th
DRUG COST	65¢	60¢	51¢	57¢	64¢	49¢	$1.00

Based on each nation's average price of prescription drugs, in US$.

The Progressive proposal includes language to permit the importation and reimportation of FDA-approved prescription drugs, a measure Sanders has been pushing in the House. According to data released this week by the Canadian government, the price disparity between the United States and the rest of the world has exploded in recent years, with an almost 9% increase in the gap in 1999 alone. By allowing American consumers to access the lower prices for prescription drugs around the world Sanders plan would have more funds to broaden coverage.

Link: Questions & Answers

The Progressive plan also includes provisions to maximize the federal government's bulk purchasing power by consolidating the purchase of prescription drugs for all government uses, including participants in the Medicare drug benefit program. This proposal by Rep. Tom Allen (D-ME) already has 152 co-sponsors in the House. Additionally, the alternative plan requires the NIH enter into reasonable pricing agreements with pharmaceutical companies who are manufacturing prescription drugs developed with federally funded research - a concept overwhelmingly supported in the successful passage of Sanders' NIH amendment last week.

Link: Complete Press Release