Letter: Medicare reform not complicated

Tuesday, July 8, 2003 | 8:41 a.m.

Prescription drugs can be purchased in Canada for one-third of their cost in the United States. In Mexico it's one-fourth the cost. You would think our elected officials would be able, through legislation or negotiation with the drug companies, to provide these type of discounts to U.S. seniors without putting a strain on Medicare.

For some reason drug companies do not feel compelled to offer seniors any break because they do not feel any pressure to do so. Drug companies making profits outside the U.S. -- selling at much reduced prices -- would seem to rule against their argument that they must have higher prices to support research. If that is true, then I suggest they increase their prices outside the U.S. and pass that increase on to the U.S. seniors in the form of lower prices.

Even AARP provides a prescription drug discount for only $20 a year. So why is Congress making such a rocket-science project of reforming Medicare to include prescription drug coverage with so many rules, restrictions and private health care options. Looks like we all know who is really running Congress on this issue.

RICHARD MASTERS