| The Honorable Patty Murray,
Co-chair
The Honorable Jeb Hensarling, Co-chair
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
United States Congress
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Murray, Rep. Hensarling, and Committee
Members –
MAPRx brings together beneficiary, patient
advocacy, family caregiver and health professional organizations
committed to improving access to prescription medications
and safeguarding the well-being of beneficiaries with
chronic diseases and disabilities under the Medicare
prescription drug benefit (Part D). On behalf of millions
of Medicare beneficiaries with chronic conditions who
rely on Part D for essential medications, we urge you
and fellow members of the joint deficit panel, or “supercommittee,”
to protect the Part D program as you examine ways to
reduce federal spending.
MAPRx is cognizant of the fiscal situation facing the
nation. Furthermore, we recognize the enormity of the
challenge the Committee faces. However, we are concerned
that, in the effort to find savings in the Medicare
program, Part D beneficiaries will be negatively impacted
both financially and in terms of health outcomes. Proposals
such as increasing Medicare beneficiary cost-sharing,
raising coinsurance and freezing income thresholds have
the potential to affect Part D beneficiaries in these
ways.
When looking at federal spending to find greater efficiencies
and areas to reduce spending, we ask that you keep this
in mind when looking at Part D: it has been and continues
to be extremely successful. The program has provided
a lifeline to millions of beneficiaries by providing
them with access to prescription drugs that were previously
unaffordable. This, in turn, has improved health outcomes,
which ultimately saves money in other parts of Medicare
by reducing doctor and hospital visits, preventing acute
illness, and avoiding other costly health problems.
Finally, the Part D program has proven to cost far less
than projected.
All of these factors amply demonstrate that Part D is
working well – for beneficiaries and the federal
government.
Imposing policies that place greater financial burdens
on beneficiaries has the potential to undermine much
of this success. As noted in a recent report by the
Kaiser Family Foundation, half of the total Medicare
population has an income below twice the federal poverty
level - $22,000 for an individual – and “even
those with higher incomes often struggle to make ends
meet.” Even with the benefits of Part D, many
still struggle to afford needed prescription drugs.
Increasing cost-sharing or raising co-insurance may
cause many – particularly those with chronic conditions
that require high-cost drugs or biologics – to
face severe financial hardship and/or forego necessary
treatment, which will ultimately drive up costs in other
parts of the Medicare program.
MAPRx asks that you carefully consider the impact on
beneficiaries of any changes to the Part D program.
As additional people enter the Medicare program over
time, Part D will become even more essential in maintaining
health and reducing costs. Making significant changes
that create obstacles to beneficiaries’ access
to prescription drugs will render the program less effective.
This would be unfortunate – and unnecessary –
for the Medicare population, the entire Medicare program,
and the entire nation. MAPRx urges the Committee to
resist proposals to erode beneficiary protections in
Part D that ensure broad and accessible prescription
drug formularies.
MAPRx thanks you for your service to the country and
for taking time to consider our comments. We wish you
success in your endeavor. Should you have questions
related to MAPRx or the above comments, please contact
Mary Beth Buchholz, MAPRx Coalition convener, at (202)
637-9732 ext 229 or by email at Marybeth@maprxinfo.org..
Sincerely,
Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, Inc.
The AIDS Institute
Alliance for Aging Research
Alliance for Patient Access
Alpha-1 Association
Alpha-1 Foundation
The ALS Association
American Brain Tumor Association
American Lung Association
Association of Community Cancer Centers
Association of American Cancer Institutes
Alzheimer’s Association
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
Arthritis Foundation
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation
COPD Foundation
Cystinosis Foundation
Easter Seals
Epilepsy Foundation
Global Healthy Living Foundation
HealthHIV
Hemophilia Federation of America
Huntington’s Disease Society of America
International Cancer Advocacy Network
Kidney Cancer Association
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Lupus Foundation of America
Lymphangiomatosis & Gorham’s Disease Alliance
Lymphoma Research Foundation
Men’s Health Network
Moebius Syndrome Foundation
National Alliance for Caregiving
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services
Programs
National Council on Aging
National Council on Community Behavioral Healthcare
National Family Caregivers Association
The National Grange
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
National Kidney Foundation
National Minority Quality Forum
National MPS Society
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Organization for Rare Disorders
National Osteoporosis Foundation
National Patient Advocacy Foundation
National PKU Alliance
National Psoriasis Foundation
National Stroke Association
Organic Acidemia Association
Ovarian Cancer National Alliance
OWL – The Voice of Midlife and Older Women
Parkinson’s Action Network
Prevent Cancer Foundation
Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada
RetireSafe
United Spinal Association
US Hereditary Angioedema Association
US Pain Foundation, Inc.
Women Against Prostate Cancer
WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart
Disease
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