Here's What a Senator Is Supposed to Do!

I received the following letter from my favorite Senator from Ohio:

Dear Ms. Dennison:

Thank you for getting in touch with me regarding S.740, the Medicare Drug Savings Act. I am a proud original cosponsor of this legislation.

This bill would eliminate a special deal for brand-name drug manufacturers that allows them to charge Medicare higher prices for some seniors’ prescription drugs. It would require drug companies to provide rebates to the federal government on drugs used by nearly 340,000 Ohio dual eligibles — people eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, who are predominantly low-income seniors — just as was done for dual eligibles on Medicaid before the creation of Medicare’s private prescription drug program—Medicare Part D—in 2006.

With the exception of Medicare Part D, all large purchasers of prescription drugs negotiate better prices, including the Medicaid system and private insurers. This bill reinstates the ability of the Medicaid system to negotiate prices for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, just as they do for Medicaid beneficiaries that are not also eligible for Medicare. It corrects the excessive payments to drug companies, while also saving taxpayers and the federal government from footing unnecessary costs. Over the past ten years, the 11 largest drug companies alone took $711.4 billion in profits, including a 62 percent increase from 2003 to 2012.

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the Medicare Drug Savings Act would save more than $141 billion by helping to responsibly reduce the deficit by ending a special interest giveaway that requires the government to pay a higher rate for prescription drugs. I will work with my colleagues on the Senate Finance Committee to bring this bill up for a vote.

Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with me.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator

I don't think it gets any better than that!!! See why I keep working and voting for him? He and his pal, Bernie Sanders are my guys on the Hill!


Happy Blogging!!!!!!

Kay