Senator Collins has announced that she will support the bill when it comes before the Senate and has released the following statement:
"The Medicare Bill, which is now before Congress, represents the biggest expansion in the program's 38-year history and an historic opportunity that may never come again and that we cannot afford to let pass.
"Providing our seniors and disabled Americans with greater access to affordable prescription drugs is long overdue. Our health care needs have changed dramatically since Medicare's inception. Americans rely more and more on prescription drugs to maintain a healthy lifestyle, yet these vital drugs are becoming increasingly inaccessible to low income seniors, in particular, because the cost of drugs has skyrocketed and traditional Medicare does not provide coverage. If Congress were to create a Medicare program today, there is no doubt that it would include a prescription drug benefit.
"The Medicare program is in need of modernization and I believe this bill takes a number of important first steps. For example, it creates a prescription drug benefit that would be available to seniors who choose to participate and it would provide much-needed help to low-income seniors.
"The bill takes steps to immediately reduce the cost of prescription drugs for seniors. While the prescription drug program is complex and will take a few years to get off the ground, this bill would provide immediate assistance through a drug discount card to be issued to participating seniors. It also contains a provision that I authored in the Senate version of the bill to bring less expensive, generic drugs to the market sooner while still encouraging research and innovation among drug manufacturers.
"I also strongly support provisions in the bill that will provide $25 billion to rural hospitals and physicians. Hospitals in Maine would benefit by an increase of about $125 million over the next ten years. This bill will also increase payments to physicians in Maine by an estimated $7 million a year. Rural health care providers are often reimbursed by Medicare at rates much lower than those of urban and suburban health care providers. This situation is threatening the availability of good, quality care to individuals who live in rural communities. This increase would be welcome to rural hospitals, physicians and the patients who rely on their services.
"I am pleased that the bill includes a provision I support to ensure continued funding for Medicare graduate medical education funding for Maine's family practice residency programs, which are so critical to the continued supply of physicians in our state. This provision could mean an estimated $1.7 million for these important programs.
"The final Medicare bill also includes my provision that will make Medicare more accessible to our nation's elderly and disabled Medicare patients who are homebound. This "David Jayne," provision, named after a courageous advocate who inspired the legislation, will ensure that the homebound patients who most rely on Medicare, will have access to the services they need and deserve.
"I agree with many, including AARP, that this bill, while not perfect, is worth supporting. It is a good first step and an opportunity that we cannot allow to pass. Millions of older Americans and their families will be helped by this legislation. Millions more will be helped in the future.
"I will cast my vote in support of this bill."