AARP asks U.S. Senator Coleman to stand up to big pharma

Apr 5 2007

AARP State President Skip Humphrey stood with a group of red-shirted AARP members and representatives of the Minnesota Senior Federation and the Elder Care Rights Alliance to urge U.S. Senator Norm Coleman to support legislation to give Medicare the authority to negotiate with drug companies for lower prescription drug prices.

"Senator Coleman has a chance to stand up to the big pharmaceutical lobby and give Medicare the power to use its leverage of 43 million Medicare beneficiaries to bargain for lower prescription drug prices," said Humphrey. "It's what Minnesotans want and it's the right thing to do."

There is overwhelming support by residents in Minnesota to allow Medicare to bargain for lower drug prices. According to a February AARP poll, 93% of Minnesota residents want Medicare to use its enormous bargaining power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs.

The current prohibition on Medicare negotiating with drug companies was written into law to appease the drug industry. Now, the big drug companies are fiercely working to kill this legislation.

AARP designated today, Wednesday, April 4, as a Call to Action Day, when members throughout Minnesota will be calling and emailing Senator Coleman and urging his support. A phone bank at AARP's St. Paul office will reach out to members across the state to urge them to make contact. Advertisements in 5 daily newspapers and several radio stations are also running to urge the public to call Senator Coleman.

"The voices of Minnesotans are reaching out to Senator Coleman today, and we want him to respond," said Humphrey. "His leadership is critical to the bill's success."

A vote on the bill is expected soon after the Senate returns to Washington, around the 16th of April. A similar measure passed the U.S. House by a bipartisan vote of 255 - 170. AARP is tracking key votes and reporting back to its 38 million members how Congress votes on legislation of interest to AARP members.

"Giving Medicare bargaining power is a key issue for our members, and we will be letting them know where their elected officials stand on this matter. Our members are looking to us to keep them informed about how Congress responds to our efforts," said Humphrey.

AARP has 38 million members nationwide - 675,000 in Minnesota. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and

sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.