Making Prescription Drugs Affordable

And the band played on. At a candidate forum sponsored by the Senior Advocacy Club at Heritage Village in Southbury, the three certified candidates for Congress in the 5th District faced off for the very first time, before a capacity crowd of over 200. As the candidate of the Concerned Citizens Party, I was given an opportunity to express my views on several topics and responded to questions from the audience. I presented my own drug prescription plan and listened as Representatives Johnson and Maloney kicked holes in each other’s proposals. Even then, three weeks ago, it was apparent that both Johnson and Maloney, and the political parties they represent, were not interested so much in enacting legislation that would address the needs of seniors as much as they were interested in leveraging the issue for their own political advantage.

To put the issue into perspective, several points need to be made. One drug, a proton pump inhibitor marketed under brand names Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium and others, will enjoy sales in the year 2002 totaling $8 billion—just one drug! Industry-wide, the increase in the cost of prescription drugs last year was 17%. Johnson and Maloney expect to collectively spend $5 million in their campaigns. Where is all this money coming from?

Both candidates revel in appearances before local town audiences, handing out giant-sized checks from the government for libraries, for extending water lines, for brownfield cleanups, etc. They discreetly fail to mention that this money comes out of the pockets of taxpayers in the first place. Connecticut, being the highest taxed state per-capita in the country, only gets back 67 cents for every dollar collected in federal income taxes. That's a 50% premium paid for every dollar we get in grants—even the sleaziest of credit card companies don't charge that much. Johnson and Maloney are able to maintain their hero status through the simple expediency of playing on people’s credulity.

My own prescription plan, which follows, was handed out to residents at the Heritage Village forum. It addresses the core issue ignored by both Johnson and Maloney—the upward-spiraling and out-of-control future costs of newly developed pharmaceuticals. Something must be done about this issue, because it won't matter how effective the drugs might be if you can't afford them in the first place.

The Zdonczyk Prescription Plan

All seniors who have reached the retirement age of 65 should have 100% of their necessary prescription drug costs covered by the government. Early retirees (ages 63-65) should have 50% of their cost covered by the government. Taxes should be raised to cover the costs.

Pharmaceutical companies should be guaranteed a 6% maximum return on their yearly bottom line. Any excess profits should be returned to the U.S. Treasury to help offset the tax increase.

Every citizen, young or old, will recognize the value of the program, since the costs will be spread across the board. Any young person will be assured of the help he may need at some future time when he may be unable to finance his prescription requirements.

Drug companies will be pleased because the uncertainty of underwriting new drug research will be eliminated. Oftentimes extensive research into a new drug line ends in failure at a cost of millions. Drug companies will be able to fulfill their altruistic mission statements and focus on development of new drugs to benefit all mankind.

Of equal importance, unscrupulous drug companies will not have carte blanche to raise without limit drug prices in the future. If drug companies have their hand in Uncle Sam's pocket they will most assuredly dig ever deeper. This is the element not addressed in both Mr. Maloney's and Mrs. Johnson's plans.

My plan will address senior citizens prescription costs immediately; spread the costs fairly; provide incentives for youth to participate; and guarantee pharmaceutical companies a handsome return on their investments.

Joseph A. Zdonczyk is the 5th District Congressional candidate of the Concerned Citizens Party.