IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 215 
Expressing the fact that the House of Representatives supports the system 
for prescription drug coverage provided under part D of the Medicare 
program and believes that changes to such system should not be part 
of the American Health Care Act of 2017. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 21, 2017 
Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself and Mr. MAST) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in 
addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the fact that the House of Representatives sup-
ports the system for prescription drug coverage provided 
under part D of the Medicare program and believes 
that changes to such system should not be part of the 
American Health Care Act of 2017. 
Whereas in 2003, Congress created part D of the Medicare 
program, which provided voluntary, outpatient prescrip-
tion drug coverage for seniors; 
Whereas in 2015, about 39 million Medicare beneficiaries re-
ceived prescription drug benefits through a Medicare part 
D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan; 
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•HRES 215 IH 
Whereas another 2 million such beneficiaries received drug 
assistance through a part D subsidized retiree health 
plan; 
Whereas program costs under part D have been lower than 
estimated at the beginning of the program; 
Whereas the 2004 Medicare Trustees Report projected the 
total program spending would be $85 billion in 2006 and 
would grow to $162 billion by 2013; 
Whereas actual Medicare spending was $70 billion in 2013; 
Whereas according to a Healthcare Leadership Council, 89 
percent of Americans age 65 and older are satisfied with 
their coverage and 85 percent say that they consider 
their Medicare drug plan to be a good value; 
Whereas under the standard Medicare Prescription Drug 
Benefit for 2017, beneficiaries reach a coverage gap, 
commonly known as the ‘‘doughnut hole’’, when their 
total drug costs reach $3,700; 
Whereas beneficiaries reach a catastrophic coverage threshold 
when their drug costs reach $8,071; 
Whereas in 2010, as a part of the Patient Protection and Af-
fordable Care Act, it was found that the coverage gap 
will end by 2020; and 
Whereas many seniors have been misled into believing that 
the coverage gap will be repealed during health care re-
form: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the system for prescription drug 
coverage provided under part D of the Medicare pro-
gram; and 
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(2) believes that changes to such system should 
not be part of the American Health Care Act of 
2017. 
Æ 
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