On Medicare's Birthday, Let's Pass the Commonsense Medicare Drug Savings Act
As working families celebrate Medicare's 48th birthday, the Alliance for Retired Americans and other advocates are urging Congress to pass the Medicare Drug Savings Act (S. 740 and H.R. 1588).
Edward F. Coyle, executive director of the Alliance, says in a statement:
“On today’s anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, grassroots activists with the Alliance for Retired Americans are grateful that these programs have provided 48 years of care and security for millions, allowing millions of retirees and people with disabilities to afford to see a doctor or fill a prescription.
“Unfortunately, Washington is fixated on deficit reduction to the detriment of Medicare. Instead of asking the wealthiest 2% to pay their fair share, some politicians are trying to balance the budget on the backs of seniors and people with disabilities by further means-testing Medicare. This would actually affect middle-income retirees—and shift more costs to beneficiaries. These benefit cuts would seriously hurt current and future retirees, undermine the program and are completely unnecessary.”
The Medicare Drug Savings Act, introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), would save Medicare more than $140 billion by eliminating the loophole that blocks Medicare from negotiating with Big Pharma for cheaper drugs.
Read some powerful stories about people who would be affected by Medicare benefit cuts .
