The Medicare Chartbook

Needed: A Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

PhRMA strongly supports enactment by Congress of a prescription drug benefit for seniors and the disabled that will provide full access to innovative medicines that help patients lead longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Seniors and the disabled should have a wide range of choices when selecting a health plan to ensure that their individual health needs are met.

PhRMA believes that a prescription drug benefit should be a part of
comprehensive Medicare reform, but, if that is not possible, will support a stand-alone benefit based on the following principles:

• Beneficiaries should have access to all medicines.
• Federal government subsidies should help low-income beneficiaries afford coverage.
• All beneficiaries should have the ability to enroll in any qualified prescription drug plan of
  their choosing, including private fee-for-service, an HMO plan, and other private-sector
  options.
• Coverage should be offered through competing, private insurance plans that rely on market-place
  competition to control costs and improve quality.
• Plans should provide coverage for beneficiaries with high pharmaceutical expenditures.
• Plans should be overseen by a new, independent government entity.

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