SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG LAW
May 3, 2004
MAY 3, 2004
SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY -
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG LAW
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued "The Bush Administration Misstatement of the Day" on the Medicare prescription drug law.
On the first day when seniors and persons with disabilities are eligible to purchase a privately-run Medicare discount drug card, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said in a news release:
"The power to save on prescription drugs is now in hands of seniors and people with disabilities."However, under the bill, there is no requirement that seniors or persons with disabilities receive any specific level of savings and it is very uncertain how much financial help the new drug discount cards will provide. There is some evidence that drug companies are actually raising the prices of drugs now so that any discounts that are provided will be on inflated prices.