WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- Congress should replace the new Medicare bill since it doesn't provide drug savings its supporters promised, U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., said Saturday.
Schakowsky, deliering the Democratic Party's weekly radio address, said the Medicare Web site is confusing and had some incorrect information and, because of increases before the new Medicare bill went into effect, some drugs costs are actually higher.
"Under the Republican-passed Medicare bill, the federal government is prohibited from negotiating on behalf of the 41 million Americans who are enrolled in Medicare," the congresswoman said. "Instead, the bill leaves seniors and people with disabilities with high and escalating out-of-pocket costs and a huge gap in coverage."
Schakowsky called for congressional action on a House Democratic measure to replace the new Medicare bill. She said the measure would allow Medicare's "bulk-buying power" to reduce prescription drug costs. Schakowsky claimed Republicans in Congress were hampering work on the proposal.
"Democrats are moving forward in our fight to provide a real drug benefit for our seniors, because an issue this critical deserves a fair vote; just as America's seniors deserve a fair price for their prescription drugs," she said.
