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Political watch
Harman calls For Medicare Prescriptions
by Kevin Cody
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South Bay seniors pay an average of 151 percent more than HMO's for the five most popular drugs prescribed to seniors, according to a study by 36th Congressional Candidate Jane Harman. |
South Bay seniors pay an average of 151 percent more for lifesaving drugs than Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO's), according to a recent study commissioned by 36th Congressional District candidate Jane Harman. The study was based on prices charged by 10 Redondo Beach, Torrance and Los Angeles pharmacies in the 36th Congressional District. The higher prices paid by seniors are not due to the average 29 percent mark-up imposed by South Bay pharmacies, the study found. Rather, the price difference is due discounts drug companies give to large institutional buyers such as HMO's and the federal government.
At a press conference Friday, Harman cited the study as evidence of the need for Medicare to cover prescription costs. She described a pending Republican prescription drug bill as a "cynical ploy...that fails to lower the cost of prescription drugs for seniors."
Over 30 percent of Medicare recipients - 13 million seniors -have no prescription drug coverage, according to the study. Seniors spent an average of $1,100 for prescription drugs in 2000, the study also noted. ER