Media Release
| For Immediate Release | Contact | Phone |
| July 26, 2006 | Mike Olender | 732-246-4772 |
| Eve Weissman | 856-966-3091 |
New Jersey Citizen Action, Seniors to Deliver "Donut Holes" to Congress Members Ferguson, Saxton, LoBiondo
Seniors Call for Congress to Close the "Donut Hole" in New Part D Prescription Drug Plan
Warren/ Mount Holly/Mays Landing, New Jersey – Today New Jersey Citizen Action joined senior citizens to deliver Munchkin "donut holes" to the district offices of Congressional members to urge them to close the "donut hole" gap in the new Part D prescription drug program. NJCA met with senior constituents at the district offices of Rep. Mike Ferguson (R-7), Jim Saxton (R-3) and Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2) to deliver the donuts and draw attention to the fact that Part D needs serious reform as more seniors fall into the "donut hole" gap in coverage and are forced to pay full price for their prescription drugs.
This event was the latest in New Jersey Citizen Action's campaign to get Congress to fix the new Part D prescription drug program, which better serves drug and insurance companies than seniors and citizens with disabilities. NJCA and seniors delivered boxes of donuts with an affixed "special delivery" label urging each Congressional member to fix the donut hole and the other problems with Part D. The label, which read "Everybody loves donuts but not when it comes to their prescription drug coverage", contained a cut-out "Coupon for Reform", which listed the campaign's reform goals which would better serve beneficiaries.
"Congress needs to act fast, said Mike Olender, Organizer for New Jersey Citizen Action. "Seniors and people with disabilities are facing real financial and health risks by falling into the 'donut hole', which is something that could have been avoided if Congress allowed Medicare to negotiate better drug prices, just as the Veterans Administration does. Under the new Medicare law, such negotiations are not permitted and seniors, citizens with disabilities, and taxpayers are paying the price."
"It's a pity that the 'donut hole' will symbolize a Medicare program that is deceptive, wasteful, expensive and complex, said Fred Canzano, a senior citizen from Cranford who joined NJCA to deliver donuts to Ferguson's office.
The embattled prescription drug law known as Part D has been called costly, confusing and corrupt because it was written to benefit drug and insurance companies more than seniors. NJCA is urging Congress and President Bush to fix Part D to provide a drug benefit that is simple, affordable and guaranteed.
New Jersey Citizen Action is calling for the "donut hole" gap in coverage between $2,250 and $5,100 to be closed and the following changes:
- Allow Medicare to use its free market muscle to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices.
- Allow seniors the choice of obtaining their prescription drug plan directly from Medicare instead of a private insurance company.
- Elimination of the late enrollment penalty fee
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New Jersey Citizen Action is the state's largest citizen watchdog coalition, with more than 60,000 family members and over 100 affiliated organizations. 