U.S. Senator Pete Fitzgerald fights for prescription bill

U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald fights for prescription bill

There is bipartisan support for a prescription drug benefit package for senior citizens as part of the Medicare program, but the battle remains in how to structure the legislation, U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald (R-Ill.) said Wednesday.

"The president's proposal was to provide the first dollars for a prescription drug benefit but not the last catastrophic dollars for the benefit," he said on WBBM's Bob Crawford's "At Issues" radio talk show scheduled to air 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 28).

His remarks come on the heels of Cook County Commissioners Roberto Maldonado and Bobbie Steele this week accusing Republicans of slapping seniors in the face by adjourning and not passing legislation that would help the elderly pay for their prescription drugs.

"I don't think we want to pay the very first dollars," he said, explaining there should be a little co-pay.

Fitzgerald said President Clinton's plan allegedly failed to provide protection for seniors who have huge pharmaceutical costs. He called that "problematic" but he provides the first dollars without a co-pay.

"While we want to recognize the need that our seniors have for the prescription drug benefit, we still have to be fiscally responsible at the same time. We don't want to craft a program that has incentives for wasteful spending on pharmaceuticals," the senator stated.

Asked if Congress should be looking at the soaring cost of prescriptions, Fitzgerald said there have been obstacles to using generic brand drugs in the past. "I think we need to look at what there is in the law that keeps our drug prices so high."

Fitzgerald wants to know why drugs are higher than other countries like Canada.

"We have to make sure that drug companies have incentives to develop new drugs and they will be awarded if they hit upon a successful drug but at the same time not keep that monopoly power over that brand name drugs for an inordinate number of years."

The senator said there must be a right balance and that congress needs to look to see if there are obstacles in existing law that prevents competition among drug companies regarding brand name vs. generic alternatives.

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Photo (U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald)