Veterans and Patient Groups Speak Out Against Medicare Price Controls

Via email:

While Republicans will offer a proposal to ensure seniors can continue to choose the prescription drugs they need and meet with their neighborhood pharmacist, veterans and patient groups across the country are speaking out against H.R. 4, the Democrat majority's plan to impose government price controls on the Medicare prescription drug program.

The American Legion, a veterans service organization with nearly three million members, yesterday released a letter opposing H.R. 4, saying it "is not in the best interest of America 's veterans and their families." It goes on to say the following:

"Every time the federal government has enacted pharmaceutical price control legislation, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) experienced significant increases in its pharmaceutical costs as an unintended consequence."

A letter from the ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) Association voiced "strong opposition" to H.R. 4, saying:

"Legislation that authorizes the federal government to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices will significantly limit the ability of people with ALS to access the drugs they need and will seriously jeopardize the future development of treatments for the disease."

The Arthritis Foundation has raised serious concerns about the bill:

"The response to drug therapies for people with arthritis is highly individualized and dependent on the form of arthritis being treated, drug treatment history, and the person's risk tolerance for drug side effects. The drug treatment for persons with arthritis who depend on Medicare coverage must not be compromised by limiting the choices of available drugs or by forcing consumers to select from the least effective treatments due to Part D program design."

The Epilepsy Foundation has raised concerns about losing access to life-saving medicines:

"Access to the right medications for epilepsy can make the difference between living in the community, being employed and leading a healthy and productive life. The consequences of denying the appropriate medication for an individual with epilepsy can be life-threatening and can include injury, emergency room visits, hospitalization or other types of costly medical interventions."

The National Alliance for Mental Illness expressed significant reservations about concerns about losing access to life-saving medicines:

"NAMI is extremely concerned that placing this new legal mandate on the Secretary would directly result in loss of the "all or substantially all" guidance in the 6 protected classes, and therefore poses a significant risk to Medicare beneficiaries with mental illness."

The marketplace is working for America 's seniors and taxpayers. America 's seniors deserve the best health care possible -- they won't get it if Washington is calling the shots.