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Families USA:
"Big changes in the composition of the House and Senate will have a profound impact on national health policymaking in 2007 and 2008.
As a result, some issues, such as expansion of children's health care coverage and improvements to the Medicare Part D program, will receive a tremendous boost when the new Congress convenes in January.
"Due to its broad bipartisan support, SCHIP no doubt will be reauthorized.
However, since approximately 9 million children continue to be uninsured, the real question before Congress is whether the reauthorization process will expand health coverage and provide adequate SCHIP funding for those children who don't have coverage and whose families can't afford it.
"Another critical issue is skyrocketing prescription drug prices and whether Congress will lift the legislative prohibition that prevents Medicare from bargaining with the drug companies to secure lower prices.
Among all of the top-20 drugs prescribed for seniors, the VA has achieved much lower prices than the lowest prices charged by all Medicare Part D plans.
The median price difference is an astounding 46 percent.
"In addition, the Medicare bargaining issue may open the door to legislation that enables U.S. residents to re-import drugs from Canada and other countries, as well as securing greater transparency in Medicare drug pricing.
Posted on November 9, 2006 07:48 PM
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