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| Category: Politics |
Date published: August 14, 2004 |
In December 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act was passed, and many senior citizens were gullible enough to believe Bush wanted help them get lower drugs costs. Less than a year later they realize they were duped.
In June, Bush introduced a prescription discount card program that in fact does nothing to lower costs because, (1) it bars Medicare from negotiating for better prices on behalf of its 40 million members like the VA does; (2) it prohibits importation of cheaper drugs from other countries; and (3) companies can change drugs offered and their prices whenever they want, but seniors can only change cards once a year.
To please his industry cronies Bush even got his allies in Congress kill a provision that barred companies from upping prices more than once a month, saying "price stability is not a requirement of the drug benefit." Well maybe seniors would appreciate a little stability in their budgets.
In 2003, drug companies intentionally raised prices on popular drugs at a rate 3.5 times faster than the overall rate of inflation. The price of 14 commonly used drugs rose by 5 times the rate, wiping out any savings the cards might have provided.
Seniors are exerting pressure on Republicans in Congress to fix the bill. With their jobs on the line, many have joined Democrats in supporting a bill that would allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prices and legalize importation of drugs from Canada.
Bush is opposed to the legislation and stands firm on the side of the drug industry. I predict it will cost him the election. Seniors make up 13% of the population which adds up to a lot of votes against Bush.
By Evelyn Pringle
e.pringle@sbcglobal.net
Miamisburg, OH 45342
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In My Opinion
