WASHINGTON, DC – Congressmen Collin C. Peterson (DFL-Minn) and Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla) Thursday announced a bipartisan plan to improve access to prescription drugs for the most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries — those who are low-income or who have high annual drug costs.

“This is a positive first step in helping Medicare beneficiaries who need assistance in obtaining prescription drugs,” Peterson said. "With the best health care system in the world, we simply can not stand by while beneficiaries choose between paying bills or buying prescription drugs.”
 
Specifically, the Medicare Beneficiary Prescription Drug Assistance and Stop-Loss Protection Act of 1999 would:
 

Over 6 million beneficiaries will be eligible to receive prescription drugs through the State Drug Assistance Programs authorized under the proposal. The stop-loss proposal will protect Medicare beneficiaries from liability for high annual drug costs.  Together, this plan has the potential to help over 31 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Peterson noted that overly broad proposals spread resources too thin, threaten the fiscal stability of Medicare and provide a limited benefit to individuals.  “By targeting individuals who are low-income or have high drug costs, we can more effectively help beneficiaries in need.  And this can be done while Congress works to preserve and strengthen Medicare for the future,” he emphasized.

The plan provides Medicare beneficiaries assistance in obtaining prescription drugs without increasing beneficiaries’ Medicare premiums or jeopardizing the fiscal stability of the Medicare program.

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