Editorial: Congress should pass a drug plan

Partisan politics hampered efforts last year to reach a compromise on providing a prescription drug benefit for seniors. Yet both Republicans and Democrats so far have signaled a willingness -- at least publicly -- to find common ground and offer some sort of drug coverage. To that end, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's health subcommittee held a hearing on the issue last week. Among those testifying were seniors, health care officials and Nevada Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley.

Partisanship on contentious health care issues can be overcome. Just ask Buckley. The Las Vegas Democrat was able in 1997 to get a Nevada patient's bill of rights signed into law, despite the conventional wisdom at the outset that the insurance lobby would kill the measure. And just like with a patient's bill of rights, while Congress did nothing, Gov. Kenny Guinn and the 1999 Nevada Legislature passed a prescription drug plan for seniors. But the drug plan, as Buckley testified before Congress, is limited. Only 10,000 seniors with incomes less than $21,500 are eligible. In addition, Buckley noted that the program has struggled to enroll seniors. Still, the lack of action by Congress necessitated Nevada's intervention. But as Buckley correctly mentioned, this state doesn't have the resources to offer a decent benefit for all seniors -- only the federal gov ernment can do that.

Often when Congress debates critical issues, the legislation gets shaped solely by those hired guns who work within the nation's capital. That frequently means high-priced lobbyists end up derailing legislation that could impact their corporate clients, even though it would help working men and women. It is hoped, however, that this time Congress listens to seniors, who are struggling just to get by, and thoughtful state legislators, such as Buckley. Congress should pass a prescription drug benefit for Medicare recipients. Common sense can prevail -- if federal lawmakers let it.

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