Maloney Proposes New Drug Act Ensuring Affordable Prescriptions

BROOKFIELD — US Rep James Maloney (D-CT) announced this week that he has introduced a bill to ensure that all senior citizens have access to affordable prescription drugs.

“As a strong supporter of modernizing and strengthening Medicare, I am introducing the New Insurance Coverage Equity (NICE) Act to make sure that all seniors have access to affordable drug coverage,” Congressman Maloney said in a news conference at a pharmacy in Brookfield.

“Seniors should not forgo basic life necessities such as food or heating fuel in order to pay for their medicine,” he said.

The NICE Act would create a comprehensive prescription drug program that would help senior citizens pay for all prescription drugs at local pharmacies. At the same time, it would also cover pre-existing conditions, which other plans often exclude.

Congressman Maloney said seniors would have the right to either keep their existing coverage or participate in the NICE program. Enrollment would be completely voluntary, he said.

“Access to prescription drugs can mean the difference between life and death, or between health and chronic disease for elderly Americans,” he said. “While Medicare covers prescriptions administered in hospitals, two thirds of older Americans either have no insurance or inadequate coverage for outpatient medication. As a result, millions of seniors must pay high retail prices for drugs or limit their drug use. Many seniors who are not able to afford their prescribed dosage only pay for part of their necessary medication – forcing them to take a daily prescription only twice a week.”

Under the bill, every senior who chooses to enroll would receive a financial benefit form for their prescription drug coverage through Medicare. At a minimum, individuals would receive a benefit equal to 25 to 50 percent of the costs of prescriptions outside the plan, resulting from the discount available from bulk purchasing through Medicare, according to Congressman Maloney.

For seniors living at or below 150 percent of the poverty rate ($12,075 for individuals and $16,275 for couples), the NICE Act would cover the entire premium for their prescription drugs. Older Americans living between 150 and 175 percent of the poverty rate ($14,088 for individuals, $18,988 for couples) would pay premiums based on a sliding scale.

The NICE Act would be phased in over several years, said Congressman Maloney. He proposed using part of the federal budget surplus to fund it.