Lance Applauds Decision To Abandon Medicare Changes

Seventh District lawmaker helped lead the effort to protect affordable medicines for senior citizens

WASHINGTON, D.C.  --- Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today applauded the decision by the Obama Administration to abandon its plan to alter unilaterally Medicare drug coverage rules that would have jeopardized the health care of senior citizens across the Nation.  Lance, joined by a broad network of patient advocates, healthcare providers, insurers and drug makers, helped lead the fight in Congress to scrap the plan that he argued would harm patients and cost taxpayers unneeded expense.

“The Obama Administration was right to scrap its misguided plan that would have jeopardized senior citizens’ access to affordable medicines and cost taxpayers unneeded expense,” said Lance, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee.  “Today’s announcement is a welcome relief to New Jersey’s senior citizens who already are facing Medicare cuts because of ObamaCare.”

The Seventh District lawmaker helped lead a bipartisan group of nearly 50 lawmakers in opposing a proposed Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule that would have eliminated protected class status for several categories of drugs under Medicare Part D.   Lance and others argued that the Administration’s proposal would have resulted in more bureaucracy, fewer choices and higher costs for beneficiaries and taxpayers.

“Medicare Part D is a successful and popular program that has provided senior citizens with an affordable way to purchase prescription drugs.  Rest assured, I will continue to fight to protect this important program,” concluded Lance.