Thursday, Oct. 12, 2000 | 9:27 a.m.
Gov. Kenny Guinn should be applauded for unveiling a state-subsidized prescription drug program for an estimated 12,000 low-income Nevada seniors. Prescription drug coverage for seniors rightfully has become one of the critical issues in the presidential race between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush. It is also being debated in Nevada by Republican John Ensign and Democrat Ed Bernstein in the U.S. Senate contest.
Partisan bickering in Congress has played a large role in preventing passage of a national prescription drug plan this year; the deadlock probably won't be broken until next year at the earliest. The reason we need a national plan is reflected in the Guinn program. His plan, while commendable, covers only seniors who earn $21,500 or less annually.
It is clear that the state has limited money to help finance this program. Otherwise, we believe the governor could have been persuaded to expand the program to more than 12,000 individuals. We trust that most other states also would struggle to finance a plan covering all needy citizens.
Rapidly escalating prescription drug prices are a problem for all but the wealthiest seniors, not just those in the low-income bracket. For too long, Congress has allowed drug companies and their powerful lobbies to run amok, creating an inflationary pricing system that has forced many ailing Americans to choose between drugs and food. This is definitely one area of free market enterprise that has hurt more consumers than it has helped.
That is why Congress ought to step in and finance a national plan that would cover more seniors than programs offered by states such as Nevada. We happen to like the plan offered by Gore because it would incorporate a drug benefit into existing Medicare coverage. The Bush plan depends more on insurance companies and health maintenance organizations to provide this benefit. The last time we looked, HMOs were doing little to improve health care in this country.
Seniors provide a large and potent voting bloc. We believe they will make their voices heard in the Nov. 7 general election. We urge Congress and the next president to take their voices to heart.
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