As Congress Begins Debate on Prescription Drug Coverage for Seniors, Langevin And R.I. Academy of Family Physicians Announce Results of Rx Survey

(Warwick, R.I.)–In an address to the Silver Haired Legislature this morning, Congressman Jim Langevin announced the results of a Prescription Drug Survey of Rhode Island seniors he commissioned with the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians, which found that local seniors are having trouble paying for their often life-saving medications.

Later this evening, Congressman Langevin will lead a House Floor debate with his Democratic colleagues on the prescription drug issue.

"A prescription drug benefit for our seniors is long overdue. However, if the House legislation remains in its current form, the fight will continue," said Congressman Langevin.  "The bill that the Republican Leadership will offer hides behind complicated formulas and leaves unacceptable gaps in coverage.  Simply put, there is no guaranteed prescription drug benefit in the legislation, rather, they have crafted a 'made for Harvard Pilgrim' plan.   Here today, gone tomorrow."

Furthermore, the Republican measure is effectively only a recommendation for the private plans, which will administer the benefit. 

After five years of urging by Democrats, Congress has begun to debate legislation that could provide prescription drug assistance to Rhode Island seniors.  However, the legislation under consideration in the Senate and a separate bill scheduled for debate in the House do little to help income-strapped seniors afford their medications.  Langevin and his colleagues will be urging a vote on a separate bill that provides real cost relief for Rhode Island seniors.

The Langevin-commissioned Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians survey found that:

 37% of seniors spend more than $100.00 per month on prescription drugs
 20% of the time patients do not take medication exactly as prescribed due to cost
 18% have skipped medication to make their prescriptions last longer
 25% are prevented from filling a prescription or refill on time at least once a month due to cost
 32% rely on free samples from the physician's office
  34% cite cost as the greatest barrier to taking their prescriptions
 19% rely upon the Pharmacy Assistance Program for their medication

The study was conducted by the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians over a period of several weeks in various family practice offices, community health centers and senior centers throughout Rhode Island.  Of the 400 surveys distributed, 200 were for patients 65 or over and on Medicare.  The average age of the respondents was 67.5; 50 percent were women and 49 percent were men.  The data was tabulated by the Center for Primary Care and Prevention at Brown Medical School/ Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island.

"As physicians, we have known for years that rising costs are preventing our senior patients from taking their medications.  For many, they must choose between paying for groceries or paying for their prescriptions every month," said Dr. Sarah Fessler of the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians.  "The implications are devastating for the patients as well as for Rhode Island's physicians.  Cost-relief is crucial to keeping our patients healthy."

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