McCain Continues to Fight for Lower Presecription Drug Costs

MCCAIN CONTINUES TO FIGHT FOR LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) issued the following statement regarding the introduction of the "The Pharmacy Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2005":

"The bill we are introducing today represents a continuation of our strong bipartisan effort to ensure that American consumers are able to safely import lower cost prescription drugs. We have worked together to improve upon the legislation we introduced last Congress. After countless meetings with U.S. Customs officials, FDA officials, and consumer advocacy groups, we have worked to guarantee safety in this new system.

"New estimates now indicate that the Medicare prescription drug benefit will cost American taxpayers $720 billion to $1.2 trillion in the coming decade - those figures are for the new prescription drug benefit alone, they do not include other Medicare costs. This situation is not sustainable. Something must be done to rein in the cost of spiraling prescription drug prices.

"Drug importation is not the entire solution that will make prescriptions affordable for all Americans. However, it will help to provide relief for a large number of people who are truly struggling to afford life-sustaining medications for themselves and their families. Well over 45 million Americans lack health insurance coverage, while the cost of prescription drugs continues to outpace the rate of inflation.

"None of us have any illusions that enacting drug importation legislation will easy. Powerful special interests will continue to try to block us every step of the way. However, this is a battle worth fighting and winning for American consumers."

http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=NewsCenter.ViewPressRelease&Content_id=1516