Editorial: Coverage for drugs is elusive

Friday, June 2, 2000 | 9:47 a.m.

As each day passes, and November's general election nears, hope is running out that a compromise can be obtained to pass legislation that would provide prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients. Late last week, though, there was a ray of hope. Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced that they had reached a consensus to offer benefits. Plenty of specifics remain to be worked out, but their framework offers an excellent starting point since the bipartisan proposal would guarantee that prescription drugs would be an entitlement for any Medicare recipient who wants it.

The real danger, as with any meaningful issue before Congress now, is that both parties will fear making a compromise. In this case, many Republicans don't want government to play a more significant role in the establishment of drug prices (and in the process offend drug makers that contribute mightily to their re-election campaigns). In turn, Democrats see this as a powerful issue and would like to run on it in November; a compromise would rob them of a potent campaign weapon.

Finding a policy prescription that enables the elderly to buy less-expensive drugs certainly isn't easy, and it is made all the more difficult as both sides maneuver for position in an election year. But instead of worrying about their political futures, members of Congress would do well to remember that their continued obstinateness means at least one more year's delay, which either means seniors will go without needed medications because they're too expensive or nearly go broke trying to pay for them.

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