Title: 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.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Expresses: (1) support for the Medicare prescription drug benefit, and (2) the belief that changes to the benefit should not be included in the American Health Care Act of 2017.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 215 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 
subsequently 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 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.

Whereas in 2003, Congress created part D of the Medicare program, which provided 
        voluntary, outpatient prescription drug coverage for seniors;
Whereas in 2015, about 39 million Medicare beneficiaries received prescription 
        drug benefits through a Medicare part D plan or a Medicare Advantage 
        plan;
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 Affordable 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 reform: 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 program; and
            (2) believes that changes to such system should not be part 
        of the American Health Care Act of 2017.
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