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Congressman for all Alaska Don Young voted today in opposition to the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007 (H.R 4). This bill amends part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower covered part D drug prices on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries.

"I strongly opposed this legislation because I feel that the federal government should not be in the pharmaceutical business," said Congressman Young. The Veterans Administration drug plan covers 1,300 drugs while the Medicare drug benefit covers 4,300 drugs. H.R. 4 mirrors the VA plan and if enacted, seniors will lose access to thousands of life-saving drugs. I could not in good conscience vote for a bill that would put Alaskan lives at risk.

"Both the Congressional Budget Office and the Department of Health and Human Services actuaries estimate that H.R. 4 would have negligible or no effect on Federal spending and provide no substantial savings to the government or Medicare beneficiaries. 

"I am disappointed that House Democrats have chosen to move forward with this bill without the benefit of committee hearings to weigh its impact. The marketplace is working for America’s seniors and taxpayers. Any Medicare reforms considered by Congress should be rooted in free market principles that empower consumers with less costly, higher quality health care. America’s seniors deserve the best health care possible -- they won’t get it if Washington is calling the shots.

"I supported the Republican proposal of H.R. 4 because this legislation ensures that seniors can continue to choose the prescription drugs they need and continue to meet with their local pharmacist. This measure also guarantees that Medicare beneficiaries still have access to drugs that treat: oral cancer, HIV/AIDS, mental illness, Alzheimer's, ALS (Lou Gherig’s disease), and drugs to safeguard organ transplants."