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Positions and Views on Other Issues where Information is Available: |
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| Prescription Drugs |
Positions and Views |
| Prescription Drugs, a General Statement |
Reed: Senator Reed believes that families and their doctors-not HMOs or the government-should make personal medical decisions. But the federal government should help people struggling with the rising cost of prescription drugs. That is why he voted to increase the Medicaid rebate for generic drugs and supported efforts to give Medicare the power to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices.
Source: gsmith.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Issues.Detail Date: 07/01/2008 |
| Medicare Prescription Drug Plans |
Reed: No Response |
| Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program for Seniors |
Reed: Reed Asks President to Extend Deadline for Prescription Drug Enrollment
Thursday, May 11, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today joined his colleagues in sending a letter to President Bush requesting that the Administration extend the enrollment deadline for the Medicare prescription drug benefit program and eliminate financial penalties through the end of the year. The deadline for enrollment in the program is May 15, 2006.
Since the implementation of the program began, Medicare beneficiaries have faced challenges with enrollment, and many have been denied or delayed access to Medicare prescription coverage. Beneficiaries who do not act before the May 15th deadline will be penalized by a one percent increase in their premium for each month that they delay their choice.
"As we approach the May 15th enrollment deadline, many Medicare beneficiaries are still struggling to navigate through the complex and confusing prescription drug program. It is upsetting that many recipients of this benefit, particularly low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities, are being forced to make decisions that may not be in their best interest," stated Reed. "It is essential that beneficiaries are given an appropriate amount of time to choose the best plan. I will continue to work with my colleagues to urge the Bush Administration to ensure that seniors and the disabled will have access to life-saving medications, without facing financial hardship."
Reed voted three times to extend the enrollment deadline for the Medicare prescription drug benefit in November of 2005 and February and March of 2006. Each time, the Senate opposed the extension.
In 2003, Senator Reed, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee opposed legislation creating the prescription drug benefit. At that time Reed stated, "Affordability and dependability have been needlessly sacrificed to current and future tax cuts. Seniors expect, and deserve, th [Response was truncated to maximum response length of 2000 characters.]
Source: Candidate Website Date: 10/02/2004 |
| Safety of Prescription Drugs |
Reed: No Response |
| Importing Prescription Drugs from Canada |
Reed: No Response |
| Safety of Imported Drugs |
Reed: No Response |
| Increasing Prescription Drug Competition |
Reed: No Response |
| Negotiating Pharmaceutical Prices |
Reed: No Response |
| Bringing Generic Drugs on the Market Sooner |
Reed: No Response |
| Medicare Beneficiaries without Prescription-drug Coverage |
Reed: No Response |
| Prescription Drug Marketing |
Reed: No Response |
| Regulating Drug Advertising, Like Cigarettes and Alcohol |
Reed: No Response |