Washington, D.C. - The House Democratic Caucus of the United States House of Representatives today unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the Republican administration to extend the May 15th deadline for enrolling in the Medicare prescription drug program to January 1, 2007. Rep. Howard Berman, Member of the Democratic Caucus, strongly supported the resolution and made the following statement:

 

“Democrats in Congress stand unified today in calling for the Bush administration to extend the enrolment deadline for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. Millions of America’s seniors and people with disabilities want access to affordable lifesaving medications instead of a looming arbitrary deadline as they attempt to navigate, at best, a confusing and complex program.

 

“We must ensure that all Americans are able to make an informed choice about enrollment. Approximately 50 percent of all seniors who previously had no prescription drug coverage have yet to sign up for a drug plan that works for them. By extending the enrollment deadline we will help more than seven million seniors and people with disabilities avoid the Bush prescription drug tax and higher premiums for life.

 

 

Full text of the resolution passed on Wednesday, May 03, 2006:

 

A RESOLUTION TO EXTEND THE MAY 15, 2006 MEDICARE PART D PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROGRAM ENROLLMENT DEADLINE TO JANUARY 1, 2007

 

Expressing the sense of the Democratic Caucus of the United States House of Representatives (House Democratic Caucus) that America’s seniors and people with disabilities should receive an extension for enrolling in the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program.

 

Whereas, the House Democratic Caucus is committed to ensuring that America’s seniors and people with disabilities are provided ample opportunity to research the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program and make an informed choice about enrollment;

 

Whereas, the new Medicare Part D prescription drug program, since it started on January 1, 2006, has been fraught with confusion, complexity and errors, placing hardship and difficulties on millions of America’s seniors and people with disabilities;

 

Whereas, the Congressional Budget Office reports that extending the deadline for enrolling in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program will ensure that more than 7 million seniors and people with disabilities are not forced to pay the Bush prescription drug tax and higher premiums for life;

 

Whereas, the House Democratic Caucus has worked for decades to provide Medicare beneficiaries a real prescription drug benefit and extending the deadline for enrollment will help ensure that more Americans obtain much needed coverage: Now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved by the Democratic Caucus of the United States House of Representatives supports an extension of the May 15, 2006 Medicare Part D prescription drug enrollment deadline to January 1, 2007 and a waiver from the late enrollment penalty until after that time.