Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE NEGOTIATION ACT OF 2007 -- (House of Representatives - January 12, 2007)
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Mr. ENGEL. I thank my friend, the chairman; and I rise today in strong support of this bill.
We have an opportunity today to right one of the most troublesome provisions of the Medicare Modernization Act, the provision which prohibits the Secretary of HHS from using the bargaining power of 40 million American senior citizens and disabled Americans who are enrolled in the Medicare to negotiate more affordable drug prices.
It is simply common sense. We know that our senior citizens continue to struggle on fixed incomes to be able to purchase their prescription drugs in addition to essential basic living necessities, like food, electricity and rent. We know costs in the Medicare program continue to skyrocket. By negotiating prices, we may be able to achieve record drug savings for seniors while also shoring up the fiscal health of the Medicare program, thereby protecting U.S. taxpayer dollars.
I am troubled by the repeated false assertions on the other side of the aisle that this legislation would mandate price controls and limit seniors' access to drugs. Nothing can be further from the truth.
H.R. 4 continues to prohibit the Secretary of HHS from requiring a particular formulary, and it simply says we should give the government the best shot at trying to negotiate lower drug prices. No price controls. Even Tommy Thompson, who said he considers this bill one of his finest accomplishments, stated that he regretted the clause in the bill prohibiting HHS from negotiating drug prices. As Secretary Thompson notes firsthand, he was able to use HHS to negotiate key savings for Cipro during the anthrax attacks of 2003. So there is room for improvement.
I respect the research and development that the pharmaceutical companies conduct. Frankly, we should not bash the pharmaceutical companies. They do good work. I have a plant in my district that has created and manufactured terrific prescription drugs. I would never support a bill that I believe would stifle innovation at the expense of the American people. But I believe that we can and should promote policies which put more good options on the table. This bill does that, and I urge its passage.
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