By: U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey, M.D.

If there was a way to save more than a thousand dollars a year on your heating bill, food costs or car payments, you’d want to know about it, right? Yet partisan politics is keeping many of our senior citizens from learning about and enrolling in a new program that could save them thousands of dollars a year on prescription drug costs.

Medicare Part D is the new, voluntary drug benefit available to all seniors. Despite what detractors would like our seniors to believe, the program is working.  Seniors are saving an average of $1,100 a year with Part D coverage – and that number rises to $3,700 a year for low-income seniors.  Three million Part D prescriptions are being filled every day, and that’s three million times seniors are saving money with prescription drug coverage.

Already in Georgia, more than 65 percent of our seniors have signed up, adding to the 30 million enrolled nation-wide. However, with the May 15 enrollment deadline quickly approaching, we must ensure all seniors in Georgia have the opportunity to enroll and aren’t misled by baseless scare tactics. 

I’m proud to report the good news on Medicare Part D. A recent Washington Post poll found 74 percent of seniors thought enrollment was easy, and 63 percent reported savings in just the first few months. AARP, our nation’s leading senior advocate, reports 78 percent of surveyed seniors are pleased with the benefit. 

It’s clear enrolled seniors are happy to be saving money every time they visit the pharmacy. But you don’t have to take my word for it. If you talk to your friends and neighbors, I bet you’ll find someone who’s saving money with Medicare’s new prescription drug coverage.

You might talk to someone like Mary O’Brien of Cobb County, who previously had no prescription drug coverage. When Mary enrolled in a Part D plan earlier this year, she saved enough money on her first prescription to pay for 2 months of premiums. 

Or talk to Mae Thacker of Bartow County, who enrolled in a prescription drug plan and saw her monthly medicine bills drop by $600.

Or ask Lola Squires of Polk County what she thinks of the program. As a widower on fixed income, Mrs. Squires was paying $1,016 a month for her medication. Now, she pays only $27 a month. 

Even my own 88-year old mother enrolled in a Part D plan and is now set to save more than $1,000 a year on her medications. 

Yet in light of all this success, there are still groups trying to play politics with our seniors’ health by encouraging them not to enroll. They say the program is too confusing and isn’t worth their time.

Well, the detractors are wrong, and their scare tactics are shameful. Medicare Part D is saving seniors money, working to improve their health, and helping them reap the benefits of preventative care.  As a physician, I know that affordable prescription drugs are paramount to good heath for our seniors. And with Medicare Part D, the D stands for Delivers.

After years of promises, we have finally given seniors a tool they need to effectively manage their health: prescription drug coverage. In these final days of enrollment, let’s put people above politics and ensure all seniors have the opportunity to sign up and save.

To enroll in Medicare Part D, call 1-800-MEDICARE or go online to www.Medicare.gov.

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Gingrey announces 2006 Military Academy Day

Congressman Gingrey joins with Senator Isakson and Senator Chambliss in inviting students grades 8-12 to learn about the U.S. Service Academies. Representatives from all five Military Academies – Navy, Army, Air Force, Merchant Marines, and Coast Guard – will be available to answer student questions.

Saturday, May 6, 2006
9:30 a.m. - 11:OO a.m.

Naval Air Station Atlanta
1000 Halsey Avenue (Atlanta Road Entrance)
Marietta, Georgia
Hanger 5

For security reasons, students must RSVP to attend. For questions, please contact Denise Mitchell at (770) 836-8130.

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Gingrey receives prefect rating

from American Conservative Union

Phil was awarded a perfect rating – 100% – from the American Conservative Union for his support of conservative legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The rating is devised by analyzing votes in three categories: economic/budget; social/culture; and defense/foreign policy.

“This recognition is a great honor for me,” said Gingrey. “I remain committed to passing legislation that lowers taxes, strengthens our defense, and supports a compassionate culture of life.  In government as in life, you must stay true to your principles and do what is right. I look forward to continuing this good work on behalf of all Georgians.”

This week, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the economy grew by 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2006.

In response, Phil observed, “It is clear our current policies are working, especially when you compare our economy’s growth to that of other industrialized nations like Japan, England, Germany and France – all of which see growth rates of 1 and 2 percent.”

The U.S. growth rate is one in a line of successes for our economy this year. The national unemployment rate is at a low 4.7 percent – lower than the average rate in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. 211,000 jobs were created in March, totaling 2.1 million jobs in the past year and more than 5.1 million jobs since August 2003. And the Dow Jones is at a 6 year high. 

“Our robust economy is proof that lower taxes and policies that encourages productivity are working for the American people,” Phil said. “We must remain committed to passing good legislation to keep Americans employed and grow our economy.”

As the U.S. Senate continues work on comprehensive immigration reform, Phil outlined his goals for legislation:

“As a physician, I know you have to stop a patient’s bleeding before trying to heal his wounds. Likewise, we must stop the bleeding of our borders before we can address other issues of reform,” said Phil.  “The Senate must ensure their legislation does not reward lawbreakers or encourage other illegal immigrants to cross the border in search of jobs, benefits, and the unearned reward of citizenship. The Senate should include House-passed provisions to construct the border fence, eliminate the catch-and-release policy, significantly increase border patrol agents and their technological tools, and allow state and local authorities to help in this crucial effort.”

This week, Ms. Cornelia Kinnebrew traveled from Rome, Ga. to Washington, D.C. to join Phil at a Medicare Part D rally. Since enrolling in Medicare’s prescription drug program, Ms. Kinnebrew is saving hundreds of dollars a month, and she shared her story with Members of Congress and the national media.

Phil hailed Ms. Kinnebrew’s experience, noting, “It’s important to share these success stories with seniors across America.  Medicare Part D is saving our seniors an average of $1,100 a year - $3,700 for low-income seniors.  I want to make sure every senior who wants to enroll has the opportunity to do so before the initial deadline on May 15, 2006.”

Like many seniors, Ms. Kinnebrew’s medication costs were astronomical. She was paying more than $700 every month for her drugs – a huge portion of her monthly budget.  Now, Ms. Kinnebrew pays only $37 a month for her prescriptions.

If you or a senior in your life would like additional information about Medicare Part D or enrollment assistance, please call Congressman Gingrey’s office: (770) 429-1776 (Marietta); (706) 290-1776 (Rome); (770) 836-8130 (Carrollton). Or call 1-800-MEDICARE for a live Medicare representative, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Gingrey pushes for ethical stem cell research

Earlier this month, Phil joined Senator Rick Santorum and Congressman Roscoe Bartlett in hosting an Embryonic Stem Cell Research briefing.  The briefing detailed four proposed techniques for deriving embryonic stem cell lines ethically – without harming embryos and destroying human life.

 “The beauty of stem cell research is that it holds the potential to find treatments that can save lives,” said Phil. “But the power of this research is discredited if we are saying it is okay to destroy life in the process. As a pro-life OB-GYN, I know that life is held in every embryo. This briefing was an exciting look into successful ways we can conduct stem cell research without sacrificing life for the sake of medicine.”

Gingrey on Tax Freedom Day: Burden too high