Dear Senior:

I am proud to inform you that the 100 Hour Democrat-led Congress tackled issues including increasing the minimum wage, cutting interest rates on student loans and rolling back tax breaks for big oil companies. Most importantly for many, our legislative agenda also included proposals to improve Medicare prescription drug pricing and address the rising costs of health insurance. I would like to take this opportunity to update you on this particular matter.

As you well know, starting January 1, 2006, Medicare offered prescription drug coverage through new private drug plans and through “managed care” plans (now called "Medicare Advantage" plans). I was deeply disappointed that the new plan prohibited Medicare from negotiating lower drug prices on your behalf and blocked re-importation of drugs from other countries at lower prices as well.

To address this issue I decided to co-sponsor the Medicare Drugs for Seniors (MEDS) Act of 2006 (H.R. 4697), which was filed to simplify the program and allow Medicare to negotiate on behalf of all seniors for lower drug prices thus, lowering costs. I consistently worked on this issue because I know it is one of critical importance to you and your families, but progress was stymied by the then majority party and White House opposition.

Finally, in the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, I had the opportunity to join my fellow colleagues in voting for H.R. 4, a bi-partisan bill aimed at cutting prescription drug prices for millions of seniors because that is what you need, and, frankly, that is what you deserve. The bill will empower the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower drug prices on behalf of those who are enrolled in Medicare prescription drug plans. While the House has done its work, currently, the bill must still pass in the Senate, where it is awaiting a vote and then avoid a Presidential veto.

For more information, please contact your nearest senior center or local SHINE Councilors, community volunteers who are trained and certified by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs in many areas of health benefits, at http://www.seniorconnection.org/shine.htm .

Finally, if you need additional assistance, please call Cheryl Gresek, Constituent Service Representative, in the Office of Congressman John Tierney at 1-978-531-1669. Sincerely,

Congressman John Tierney