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Prescription Drug Cost Relief: Maybe Next Year?

Tue, 10/10/2000 - 11:00pm — Karen Stevenson
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As the current Congressional session winds to a close this week, one thing is pretty clear. Little, if anything, will get done this year to provide relief from the cost of prescription drugs for older Americans. The high cost of prescription drugs and the lack of coverage for this cost in the Medicare program has become one of the most important issues on the legislative landscape. In spite of that, partisan politics have interfered with the ability of our Congress to make any significant inroads into a solution. Democrats and Republicans are far apart in their approach to fixing this problem, and each party says that they cannot compromise their position, since they have the "right" solution. Compromise, according to both parties, would involve endangering Americans, violating the public trust, or providing an incomplete solution to the problem. One more thing is certain, candidates on both sides anticipate using this highly volatile issue to drum up interest in their campaigns.

There is no chance whatsoever of any federal legislation which would add prescription drug coverage to the Medicare program. The only legislation still on the table with any chance of passing before the end of the session is an amendment to HR 4461, the appropriations bill for the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies. The amendment, called the Prescription Drug Import Fairness Act of 2000, would make it possible for American pharmacists to import into the U.S. drugs manufactured in other countries in order to re-sell them. Since drug costs in other countries are often substantially lower than in the U.S., the hope is that this will provide a way for Americans to benefit from those lower prices. The obstacle is that it is currently illegal for anyone other than the manufacturer of a drug to import it into the U.S.

The Senate added this amendment to HR 4461 last July, after the House had already approved the bill without this amendment. The amendment picked up support from the White House and other sources, and the amended bill was sent back to the House for a vote. The House disagreed with the amendment, and set up a conference committee, which created a conference report as a substitute for the language in the Senate amendment. A number of Democrats have stated they disagree with language in the conference report, so it is not clear whether it will pass the House or not. The House is scheduled to discuss the conference report today.

As the current Congressional session winds to a close this week, one thing is pretty clear. Little, if anything, will get done this year to provide relief from the cost of prescription drugs for older Americans. The high cost of prescription drugs and the lack of coverage for this cost in the Medicare program has become one of the most important issues on the legislative landscape. In spite of that, partisan politics have interfered with the ability of our Congress to make any significant inroads into a solution. Democrats and Republicans are far apart in their approach to fixing this problem, and each party says that they cannot compromise their position, since they have the "right" solution. Compromise, according to both parties, would involve endangering Americans, violating the public trust, or providing an incomplete solution to the problem. One more thing is certain, candidates on both sides anticipate using this highly volatile issue to drum up interest in their campaigns.

There is no chance whatsoever of any federal legislation which would add prescription drug coverage to the Medicare program. The only legislation still on the table with any chance of passing before the end of the session is an amendment to HR 4461, the appropriations bill for the Food and Drug Administration and other agencies. The amendment, called the Prescription Drug Import Fairness Act of 2000, would make it possible for American pharmacists to import into the U.S. drugs manufactured in other countries in order to re-sell them. Since drug costs in other countries are often substantially lower than in the U.S., the hope is that this will provide a way for Americans to benefit from those lower prices. The obstacle is that it is currently illegal for anyone other than the manufacturer of a drug to import it into the U.S.

The Senate added this amendment to HR 4461 last July, after the House had already approved the bill without this amendment. The amendment picked up support from the White House and other sources, and the amended bill was sent back to the House for a vote. The House disagreed with the amendment, and set up a conference committee, which created a conference report as a substitute for the language in the Senate amendment. A number of Democrats have stated they disagree with language in the conference report, so it is not clear whether it will pass the House or not. The House is scheduled to discuss the conference report today.