Editorial: Prescription drug costs out of control

Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000 | 10:41 a.m.

Drug companies breathed a sigh of relief during President Clinton's State of the Union address on Thursday. Clinton didn't denounce drug makers for charging too much -- something he has done in the past. In fact, Clinton even requested that Congress give drug companies a new tax credit for developing vaccines and drugs used in Third World nations. While Clinton may not have expressed his outrage over exorbitant prices, he did renew his call on Congress to "give every senior a voluntary choice of affordable coverage for prescription drugs."

Unfortunately Clinton's proposal in 1999, which would have allowed Medicare recipients to get reimbursed for prescription drugs, was rejected by the GOP congressional leadership. Republicans found the strength to do so after the drug industry launched a deceptive media blitz that said Clinton's plan would put "big government" in the "medicine cabinets" of Medicare recipients.

In response, the president in October ordered the Health and Human Services Department to study prescription drug prices and the difficulties the elderly confront in buying expensive medicine. Some drug makers, sensing that they were losing in the court of public opinion, recently called for a truce with the White House, saying they would try to find a compromise plan. It is hoped that the president's conciliatory tone, though, isn't mistaken by the Republican-led Congress and drug companies as a sign that his position has softened. That would be tragic.

There are drugs so effective at fighting diseases, treating illnesses and reducing pain that it sometimes is difficult to make a distinction between the impact that a drug or a medical procedure can have on a patient. The only difference now is that Medicare patients aren't automatically allowed to get reimbursed for prescription costs, which means elderly Americans needlessly suffer if they can't afford the high prices. Congress should approve the president's worthy request, providing prescription drug benefits to Medicare recipients.