October
3, 2019 Press Release
Medicare
Extra Rx HELP Act would streamline Part D Low-Income Subsidy eligibility
Today,
U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Robin Kelly (IL-02) introduced
legislation to help low-income seniors and people with disabilities better
afford prescription drugs through Medicare Part D.
H.R.
4583, The Medicare Extra Rx HELP (Higher Eligibility Limits in Part D) Act
would streamline and expand the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (also known as “Extra
Help”) to help more Americans access the benefit. Specifically, Schneider and
Kelly’s legislation would:
- Eliminate
the burdensome asset verification requirement, which creates a significant
barrier to entry to the program and is difficult to administer; and
- Extend
full Extra Help benefits to Medicare-eligible seniors and people with
disabilities living below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line.
“Prescription
drugs are a growing financial burden for all Americans, but in particular for
countless seniors and others living on a fixed income,” said Congressman
Brad Schneider. “Our legislation would help more older Americans and those
with disabilities access the Extra Help benefits that were created to help.
Financial barriers should never prevent Americans from getting the care they
need, and I will continue to work to lower the out-of-pocket cost of
prescription medication.”
“Affording
prescription medicines, especially as we get older, is vital to our physical
and financial health. Sadly, I hear from too many of my constituents,
especially seniors, that they are forced to choose between lifesaving medicine
and everyday necessities. This is wrong,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly.
“This legislation will assist older Americans and those living with
disabilities in affording their medications. I, like my colleagues, remain
committed to taking bold action to reduce the cost of prescription drugs,
ensure access to care and more rapidly allow lower-cost generic drugs to come
to market.”
Companion
legislation, S.691, was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senator Bob Casey
(D-PA).
The
Medicare Extra Rx HELP Act is supported by the following organizations:
Aging
Life Care Association
Alliance
for Retired Americans
American
Geriatrics Society (AGS)
Autism
Society
Brain
Injury Association of America
Center
for Medicare Advocacy, Inc.
Disability
Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF)
Epilepsy
Foundation
Justice
in Aging
Medicare
Rights Center
National
Adult Day Services Association (NADSA)
National
Alliance on Mental Illness
National
Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs (NASOP)
National
Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM)
National
Council on Aging (NCOA)
National
Disability Rights Network
National
Health Law Program (NHeLP)
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