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The Issues by William Coit
Monday, November 26, 2001
Prescription drugs
I support The Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act (H.R. 664/S.731). It would rein in high drug costs by harnessing the buying power of 39 million Medicare beneficiaries to allow seniors and the disabled access to substantially lower drug prices. Pharmacies would purchase drugs for Medicare beneficiaries from the manufacturer at the same low prices charged favored customers such as the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Since these prices are about half the retail prices paid by Medicare beneficiaries without prescription drug coverage, seniors will benefit from substantial cost savings even after fair pharmacy dispensing fees are included.
Patient Bill of Rights
I support Georgia Congressman Charlie Norwood amendment to "Managed Care Improvement Act of 1999" (H.R. 2563) makes a logical division of responsibility between state and federal courts—allowing states’ law to control medical decision issues, while building on federal courts’ experience in interpreting insurance coverage issues under ERISA. The Norwood amendment continues the ERISA preemption of state law, both common law developed over 200 years and the new statutes passed by legislatures over the past few years, by creating a new federal cause of action for all suits. It imposes caps on non-economic and punitive damages. It guts laws in those states that hold accountable medical decision makers. It requires a heightened standard of proof if the patient doesn't prevail before an independent medical reviewer.
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