Friday, May 11, 2001 | 6 a.m.
Areport issued last week by the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation shows why a national prescription drug program for seniors is needed. Spending on prescription drugs totaled $131.9 billion last year, an alarming 18.8 percent increase. Some of the drugs with the biggest upward spikes were those for illnesses that afflict older Americans.
Nevada offers a limited prescription drug plan for lower-income seniors, but budget constraints curtail what this state can offer. Congress and President Bush need to find common ground and implement a plan that will ensure that all seniors can afford drugs, which, in many instances, can be the difference between life and death.
archive
