New senior drug program a good first step.

Byline: GUEST VIEWPOINT By Jim Feldkamp For The Register-Guard

Reading the column by Rep. Peter DeFazio in the June 17 Register-Guard was a trip down memory lane. DeFazio has a long history of voting to raise our taxes, giving the federal government more control over our lives, and spending us and our children into debt.

In attacking the new senior prescription drug benefit for costing a mere $534 billion (if we are lucky), DeFazio has once again lived up to his ultra-liberal, highly partisan reputation.

Let me set the record straight.

The new drug discount cards that became available in June are part of a voluntary prescription drug benefit added to Medicare. While the new program is definitely not perfect, it's a step in helping seniors cope with high drug prices. And despite DeFazio's contention, it's plenty expensive.

This completely voluntary benefit does not change Medicare. Seniors - particularly America's 12 million low-income seniors - have more access to drugs, at a lower cost, while keeping control over their prescription drug plans. Seniors who already have prescription drug coverage with a previous employer are protected.

The voluntary benefit starts by helping low-income seniors - those who have the most trouble paying for drugs - with a drug discount card that entitles them to up to 25 percent off the cost of their medications. In addition, they will receive a $600 cash subsidy, this year and next, to help with medication costs. They will have no premiums or deductibles.

Most importantly, seniors have all the benefits they have always had, with the option of getting additional drug coverage if they choose. For example, seniors who would prefer their traditional Medicare employer-paid retiree coverage may not wish to enroll in the new benefit - and don't have to.

Again, all of this is voluntary. No one is forced into anything. Seniors don't have to sign up for the new benefits if they don't want to, seniors don't have to join HMOs, and seniors don't even have to change doctors.

DeFazio's complaint that more seniors have not signed up may be an indication that many seniors are happy with the coverage they have. Others may simply have not made a decision yet (this is only the first month the program has been in effect). The idea that there is something wrong with choices is a typical liberal attitude. We Americans like making choices. That's why Baskin-Robbins has 31 flavors. Choices and competition benefit all of us in the long run.

Defazio preferred, and voted for, a one-size-fits-all approach that would have busted the budget and ignored the differences in seniors' prescription drug coverage needs.

In his column, DeFazio also advocated putting the government in charge of pricing drugs. Does anyone think the government ever does a better job at pricing than the free market? There's a reason why our nation has spent the last 30 years, under both Democrat and Republican administrations, deregulating industries.

The legislation DeFazio opposed takes steps to alleviate the high cost of medicine. Before, drug companies used a loophole in the law to suppress generic drugs. Now that loophole is closed, meaning cheaper generic medications will be available to seniors faster. The law also instructs the Food and Drug Administration to investigate ways drugs can be safely re-imported from Canada.

A wide array of senior and health care advocates support the voluntary prescription drug benefit. It is backed by the AARP, the American Medical Association, the Easter Seals, the American Hospital Association and more than 300 other health care organizations. The voluntary benefit obviously does not go as far as many would like, but senior advocates recognized that this is only the first step in providing seniors with affordable prescription drugs.

DeFazio voted in lock-step with his party against the prescription drug bill, and in doing so voted to deny seniors any relief from high drug costs. Now that the legislation is enacted, Defazio is trying to obfuscate the effect of the voluntary benefits. He wants the program to fail so he can push for bigger government spending and more government control.

Seniors can learn more about how the new prescription drug cards can help them by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or visiting www.Medicare.gov. When calling or using the Web site, seniors should have at hand a list of the prescription medications currently taken and the dosage, and know how many miles they are willing to travel to a pharmacy. A search will return price comparison information on the cards that offer savings in their area.

Jim Feldkamp of Eugene is the Republican nominee for Oregon's 4th District seat in Congress.