Conrad: Bills Will Mean More Affordable Drugs Medicaid assistance passes; Medicare proposal fails 07/31/02 Washington - Senator Kent Conrad today said proposals that have passed the full Senate will benefit North Dakota through access to more affordable drugs and increased federal support for Medicaid. However, a key proposal to provide a prescription drug benefit under Medicare for senior citizens failed. Conrad had the following comments: "This legislation will speed more affordable generic drugs to pharmacy shelves, giving consumers greater choice and the potential for enormous savings. It includes Senator Dorgan's proposal to give U.S. importers access to the far cheaper prices paid for prescription drugs in Canada, introducing price competition and helping consumers. "We also passed federal assistance to states under Medicaid, a formula that will bring $28.8 million to North Dakota over the next two years to provide critical medical services. At a time when our state faces severe budget shortfalls, this will provide resources to make sure North Dakotans eligible for Medicaid do not go without needed medical care. "Unfortunately, we lost the proposal I supported to give two-thirds of North Dakota's seniors, those who are the sickest and the neediest, full prescription drug coverage under Medicare. The practice of medicine has changed. Increasingly, preventive health care and drug therapies constitute good medical practice. Although we lost today, the fight to provide meaningful prescription drug coverage under Medicare must continue." ###