Hinchey on healthcare

Negotiating drug prices seen as essential for seniors

By FRITZ MAYER

KAUNEONGA LAKE, NY — In 2005, when Congress passed the Medicare Part D program to provide prescription drugs for seniors, the legislation specifically prohibited Medicare officials from negotiating with drug companies to get lower prices. At the time, some wondered why this prohibition was included for a measure that would surely keep the cost of drugs down for seniors.

Congressman Maurice Hinchey said the reason is because backers of the legislation wanted to help drive up the cost of Medicare so that eventually seniors could not afford it, and Medicare could ultimately be done away with.

Hinchey provided that explanation at a luncheon at the Bethel Senior Citizens Center in Kauneonga Lake on March 8, when he also announced that he and 61 colleagues in the House are sponsoring legislation called the Medicare Prescription Price Negotiation Act, which would require federal officials to negotiate prices with drug companies to bring down costs.

Hinchey said, “While Congress continues to work toward a final health care overhaul, this bill would assure seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries don’t have to wait any longer for reduced priced drugs.” Hinchey said the law would save taxpayers $156 billion per year in reduced Medicare drug expenses.

Hinchey is not the only area congressman who supports the measure. Congressman Chris Carney of Pennsylvania has also signed on. In a press release, he said, “Seniors and taxpayers should benefit from the government’s purchasing power, a move that would save billions of dollars. This is a common-sense solution that would help our seniors during this tough economic climate and save taxpayers billions.”

This comes as President Barrack Obama has embarked on a campaign to get a health care reform bill passed by the end of March.

Hinchey said he is not sure if that will happen, but he made clear that he is in favor of passing healthcare reform and making it as strong as possible. On the possibility of passing healthcare reform in the Senate with the process called reconciliation, which requires a vote of 51 senators instead of the 60 votes to move legislation that is being filibustered forward, Hinchey said, “It can happen; it’s not an impossible thing to do. All it takes is strength of the leadership of the Senate and standing up to people and dealing with it effectively.”