Dear Senator Judd Gregg,
Dear Senator Gregg,
Please override the presidents veto and pass the medicare bill HR-6331. These medications are extremely important to people with disabilities, and my 15 year old autistic son is one of those children. How can us poor people help our children without some help? I am a widow with 2 children. My son takes both an antidepressant and antipsychotic. I work 40 hours a week and pay all my own bills. Just one of my son’s medications cost $617.00 for 30 pills. Without this medication he would have to be institutionalized. Please help the families with disabled members stay together in this great state of New Hampshire.
Background
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331) includes a very important provision regarding six classes of drugs. This provision (section 176) would require Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to pay for the following classes of drugs:
Antidepressants (e.g., Prozac, Effexor, Zoloft) used for treating depression;
Antipsychotics (e.g., Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel) used for treating psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia;
Anticonvulsants (e.g., Depakote, Tegretol, Lamictal) used for preventing or reducing seizures;
Antiretrovirals used or the treatment of HIV and AIDS;
Antineoplastics used for the treatment of cancers; and
Immunosuppressants used to prevent the rejection of transplants and may be used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, lupus and some types of rheumatoid arthritis
CMS’ current protections for people who rely on these drugs are not strong enough. The protections are up for renewal on an annual basis and can be ignored by drug plans with no risk of sanctions. We need to make coverage of these essential medications permanent!
Many Medicare beneficiaries who have had problems with prescription drug coverage are very low-income and live on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) checks or modest disability payments. Paying out of pocket for drugs denied by Medicare Part D drug plans is not an option for most.
Section 176 ensures that beneficiaries with very serious conditions can count on access to the medications that they need.
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