Washington  -  Breakfast in bed, fresh-cut flowers, and some extra pampering for Mom are essential components of Mothers Day.  But most of the kindnesses we extend to our mothers on this one day every year are motivated by the unconditional
support we receive from them all year long. 

Many of these perks and gifts we offer last just briefly, when the devotion our mothers
show to us lasts a lifetime.

Ralph Waldo Emerson observed that, “Men are what their mothers made them.”  So our
obligation to celebrate our mothers should extend to include all of the women in our country and our communities who sacrifice in order to raise sons and daughters of good character.

Part of how we thank mothers is written in Mothers Day cards, but another part of our
thanks is written in law.  As we honor all of these women and the contributions they make to our American society, there is ample opportunity to make their lives better, longer, and easier. 

Medicare is one of the federal government’s largest programs – both older women and men depend on it for essential medical care and the flexibility to also afford food, utilities, and prescription drugs in their later years.  Yet, when we look to the future, this
government program is in dire need of reform – because it is most in danger of insolvency.

First, Medicare and access to health care in general are on the cusp of crisis.  In the past year, the average cost of health care services has increased more than ten percent, far outpacing inflation.  While Congress has passed a law that will help providers cope with some of the new challenges they face, little has been done to
address the needs of older Americans watching their costs for care and medicines skyrocket.

 

There is a tendency in Washington to think that the recent bill is sturdy enough to plug
the dam for a while.  But my goal is not to patch over Medicare’s inefficiencies.  Congress’ law is not enough. 

Unless other proposals are considered and enacted, even the most recent prescription drug benefit will be swamped by the flood of higher  prices for medical services and prescription drugs.  Right now, even though more than 40 million Americans rely on Medicare for their health care (a number that increases as the baby boom generation approaches retirement), the federal government is prohibited from negotiating for
lower drug prices on their behalf.  Instead of using the collective clout of all these prescriptions, the current system in effect purchases pills one at a time. 

In addition, at least a million American seniors who should be going to their local
pharmacists to fill their prescriptions are instead forced to go to Canada for their medicines. 

You might also be surprised about how little your physician knows about the generic
alternatives to “name-brand” prescription drugs. Unfortunately, though, there are no independent studies to tell doctors how the efficacy of low-cost generic drugs compares to that of high-cost prescriptions. 

Now I ask you, is this any way to treat our mothers?

In the House of Representatives, I have offered bills to correct these inadequacies in the current system, because I have seen how prescription drug bills can quickly pile up in my own mother-in-law’s fixed-income budget.  She is not the only mother facing 

these fears and challenges.

But it is frightening to think that, when your children are grown, you may bear these
burdens on your own. 

For our part in Southern Missouri, we are committed to constantly improving our system of rural health care to meet the needs of an aging population.  Hospice care, home visits, and dedicated professionals ensure that we have help when it comes to the care of our parents. 

So whether your mother was with you on Mothers Day, I hoped you remembered her with flowers, a phone call, a visit, or in your prayers.  And above all, remember taking care of our mothers in their later years is the best way to say thank you for the care they gave to you.