Engel Introduces Legislation to Relieve Additional Medicare Prescription Drug Costs

ENGEL INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO RELIEVE ADDITIONAL MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS

02/08/06

Calls President's Budget Irresponsible and Misguided

Washington, DC - Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) has called President Bush's budget irresponsible and misguided. "Once again, his budget prioritizes the wealthy at the expense of the most vulnerable Americans who rely on Medicare and Medicaid. This budget is irresponsible and misguided, with severely misplaced priorities for our country. To call for a massive tax cut for the richest Americans while hurting the middle and working class is unconscionable."

While this egregious budget stands to hurt more seniors relying on the Medicare Prescription drug program, Congressman Engel is teaming up with Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) and Bill Nelson (FL) to introduce legislation that will waive prescription drug co-payments for low-income seniors residing in assisted living facilities. "If we don't make sure that people are able to get their medications under the complicated and cumbersome Medicare Part D, more people are going to wind up in the hospital for reasons that can easily be prevented. The original law that created the Medicare prescription drug program exempted the lowest income nursing home residents from all prescription drug co-payments. However, it left out the equally vulnerable group of low-income seniors who live in assisted living facilities. Our bill seeks to correct this glaring error." said Engel.

Engel will be introducing the House version of the Clinton-Nelson bill which cancels co-payments for this group of beneficiaries and require that they be reimbursed for any co-payments they have been forced to pay under the new program.

"Why are we not investing in the future and looking out for those who need our help the most?" asked Congressman Engel. "After so much talk about creating meaningful prescription drug reform, our President puts forth a budget that cuts over $36 billion from Medicare and forces our seniors and veterans to pay $500 million in new, complicated enrollment fees and higher prescription drug co-pays. This budget continues to pile mountains of debt on our children and grandchildren. The Administration should be ashamed of this document. "

http://engel.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=659&ParentID=7&SectionID=17&SectionTree=7,17&lnk=b&ItemID=656