Giffords Calls for Major Change on Medicare D

TUCSON €“ Congressional Candidate Gabrielle Giffords called for major changes in the mismanaged and confusing Medicare Part D Prescription Drug program on Saturday following a community forum with advocates for Arizona seniors and people with disabilities. U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley, Chief Deputy Whip for Congressional Democrats, joined Giffords at the forum.

“This prescription drug plan is failing Arizona families and we need to start anew,” said Giffords. “In the meantime, Congress should take immediate action to change the Part D program so that Medicare recipients get the help they need.”

The changes called for by Giffords include:

• Complete reform of the Medicare Part D legislation from a new starting point: addressing the needs of seniors and other Medicare recipients instead of the needs of pharmaceutical companies.
• Extension of the May 15 enrollment deadline, so that millions of seniors and people with disabilities who are not yet enrolled will not be forced to pay expensive penalty fees.
• Allowing Medicare recipients to switch plans with no penalty fee in cases where the insurance company has removed a needed medicine from the plan formulary.
• Allowing the Dept. of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prices for medicines and pass those cost savings on to Medicare recipients.
• Investing resources in local troubleshooting hotlines to resolve the issues for seniors and people with disabilities whose needs are not being met in the current confusion.

“I have heard from many Arizonans that this confusing program is making matters worse for them,” said Senator Giffords. “These changes will start the process of improving the situation until Congress can take action to write a new plan–one that works for people instead of for special interests.”

“This bill clearly demonstrates the cost of corruption in Washington,” said Congressman Crowley. “This plan will cost taxpayers up to $1 trillion, and, even after all of that spending, it is not getting the job done for our seniors and family members who need their medicine.”

Rep. Crowley, a Democrat from New York, has earned a reputation as a fighter for working families. He successfully sponsored legislation increasing funding for smaller class sizes, expanded healthcare programs and additional funding to improve security in New York City.

The forum was attended by Medicare recipients, advocates and health care professionals from Southern Arizona. A summary of the collective testimony will be posted this week on the Giffords website (www.GiffordsforCongress.com).

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