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U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
Fighting to
Reduce Prescription Drug Costs
Just like Medicare – which celebrated its 50th Anniversary last week –
prescription drugs have helped Americans live longer and healthier
lives.
But for too many Americans, the high cost of prescription drugs forces
them to choose between taking their full dosage and putting food on the
table or keeping their lights on.
And drug costs are on the rise. A report released last month by the
Medicare Trustees found an alarming 10.9 percent increase in the cost
of drugs offered through Medicare’s prescription drug plans last year –
primarily due to the high prices of new and specialty drugs.
That’s why I’m cosponsoring legislation that would increase access to
more affordable prescription medications for seniors. This would drive
down the costs for more than 24 million Americans, including the more
than one million Ohioans enrolled in one of Medicare’s Part D
prescription drug plans.
The Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act would allow
seniors to enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan administered
directly by Medicare, instead of a private insurance company.
You should be able to get drug coverage directly through Medicare, not
be forced to buy from a middle man. Unfortunately, in order to get drug
coverage through Medicare, you must join a plan run by an insurance
company or another private company. These plans vary in cost and
coverage.
My legislation would provide for a consistent Part D plan administered
directly by the Medicare program, and would allow Medicare to negotiate
the best prescription medication prices for seniors.
Current law expressly bans Medicare from negotiating with
pharmaceutical companies for the best possible prices – even though the
government can often negotiate bigger discounts than private insurance
companies.
For example, the Department of Veterans Affairs uses this type of
negotiating authority and has cut name brand drug prices by as much as
50 percent. My legislation would save taxpayers money while providing
seniors with a high-quality, affordable prescription drug plan.
It’s not enough to just celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the creation
of the Medicare and Medicaid. We must defend Medicare for future
generations and make sure it works for today’s seniors.
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