Prescription Drug

Case Study

Prepared by the Office of U.S. Representative Marion Berry (D-AR, 1^st)
the only licensed pharmacist in Congress

Two Arkansas seniors, one is a 75 year-old man with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the other is a 66 year-old woman with abdominal pain and Hematuria. Both seniors would pay less out of their pocket if we addressed the pricing issue directly and had no Medicare drug benefit whatsoever, rather than the Republican-passed House Medicare drug benefit plan.

This 75 year-old man has Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and is taking several medications for this and related illnesses: Procardia XL, Furosemide, Altace, Micro-K, Sinequan, Prozac, Prednisone and Ativan.

Annual cost of his medications -- retail in the U.S.	Annual cost to the patient under the Republican-passed House plan	Annual cost of his medications -- retail in Canada	Annual savings to patient if there was NO MEDICARE BENEFIT and drugs were purchased retail in Canada
$6,330.00	$3,500.00	$2,218.08	$1,281.92

This 66 year-old woman has abdominal pain and Hematuria and is taking several medications for her illnesses: Prednisone, Rythmol, Xanax, Tegretol, Singulair, Nitroglycerin, K-Lyte/Cl, Altace and Aldactone

Annual cost of her medications -- retail in the U.S.	Annual cost to the patient under the Republican-passed House plan	Annual cost of her medications -- retail in Canada	Annual savings to patient if there was NO MEDICARE BENEFIT and drugs were purchased retail in Canada
$7,532.88	$3,500.00	$2,813.40	$686.60

This case study clearly shows that the House-passed Republican drug bill is a sham. The only groups this bill helps are the HMO's who will run the program and the prescription drug companies who charge high prices. Seniors would save more money if we addressed the pricing issue. It is outrageous to think the Republican plan strictly prohibits the government from negotiating prices with drug companies -- but that's exactly what it does. That's why I couldn't vote for it and that's why I hope you'll join me and let those responsible know that they dropped the ball for our seniors.

For more information, please click the following:

• Congressman Berry Named to Medicare Conference Committee
• Congressman Berry's Statement on the House Floor
• Comparison of Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
• Prescription Drug Case Study
• Call to Action