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Medicare Bill Cost Estimates
Rep. Waxman and other Democratic leaders have initiated an investigation into the Administration’s withholding of cost estimates from Congress during congressional consideration of the Medicare prescription drug legislation – estimates that revealed that the measure will cost taxpayers $140 billion more than had been anticipated.

Chronology

October 26, 2006
Democratic Medicare Drug Reforms Could Save Seniors Billions of Dollars
Democratic members of Congress have proposed reforms of the Medicare drug benefit that could save the average senior almost $500 per year and eliminate the donut hole, without any increased costs to the taxpayer.

October 12, 2006
HHS Misled Public about Medicare Drug Premiums; Seniors Will Pay Significantly More in 2007
The Department of Health and Human Services erred when it claimed that seniors would not face premium increases for their Medicare Part D coverage in 2007. A new analysis released by Rep. Waxman shows that for the average senior, premiums will increase by over 10%, with some seniors enrolled in the lowest-priced plans facing even larger increases.

September 19, 2006
Drug Company Profits Soar Under Medicare Drug Plan
Today the Democratic Truth Squad released a new analysis that reveals pharmaceutical industry profits increased by over $8 billion in the first six months after the Medicare drug plan went into effect.

July 18, 2006
Federal Government Red Tape Soaring Under Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
A new study released by Reps. Waxman and Stephen F. Lynch shows the federal paperwork burden has grown to record levels under the Bush Administration, with the new Medicare prescription drug program adding 200 million hours of government red tape.

July 10, 2006
GAO Finds Medicare Drug Plans Fail to Accurately Answer Consumer Questions
A new GAO report released today by Reps. Waxman, Dingell, Rangel, Stark, and Brown finds that the call centers run by private Medicare drug plans provide inaccurate and incomplete information most of the time. According to GAO, the private plans that are responsible for running the new Medicare drug benefit “did not consistently provide callers with accurate and complete information.”

May 23, 2006
Democrats Ask GAO to Examine Whether Part D Plans Employ Management Techniques
Ranking Members Dingell, Brown, Rangel, Stark, and Waxman ask GAO to look into whether Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans use management techniques to prevent patients from getting their medicines.

May 3, 2006
New GAO Report Finds Widespread Problems with Information Provided by Bush Administration about New Medicare Drug Benefit
Rep. Waxman, along with Reps. Dingell, Rangel, Stark, and Sherrod Brown, release a GAO report that finds that the information provided by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services about the complicated new drug benefit is rife with problems. According to GAO, the federal handbooks, website, and 1-800 Medicare hotline failed to provide information that was "consistently clear, complete, accurate, and usable."

April 26, 2006
Questions Raised About Performance of Medicare Call Centers
In a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Rep. Waxman requests additional information about reported problems at Medicare call centers. These call centers are a vital resource for seniors who are struggling to enroll in the complicated Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, and the information being provided should be complete and accurate.

April 6, 2006
Medicare Should Reimburse States for Emergency Drug Coverage in Wake of Medicare Confusion
Rep. Waxman joins his colleagues to urge the Secretary of Health and Human Services to immediately reimburse states that have been providing emergency drug coverage to low income seniors and people with disabilities after their drug coverage was dropped in the confusion of the new Medicare prescription drug benefit.

March 23, 2006
New Medicare Drug Plans Restrict Access to Important Drugs
Rep. Waxman releases a new report finding that 97% of plans restrict access to important drugs on their formularies through the use of prior authorization, step-therapy, and quantity limits. A telephone survey of the plans finds that they fail to adequately inform seniors of these restrictions, often providing information that is conflicting or erroneous.

March 15, 2006
Fact Sheet: Comparison of Medicare Drug Price Analyses
Rep. Waxman releases a fact sheet outlining the differences between minority staff's analyses of the new Medicare drug plan prices and the analyses offered by CMS.

March 7, 2006
Speech: America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) 2006 National Policy Forum

March 1, 2006
Medicare Part D: Implementation of the New Drug Benefit
Rep. Waxman made a statement at the hearing of the Subcommittee on Health, concerning his disappointment with the Medicare prescription drug program. January 1 should have been the day when America’s seniors and persons with disabilities finally got simple and dependable coverage of their prescription drugs as a regular part of Medicare instead of the confusion and disruption they experienced.

February 21, 2006
New Reports Show Medicare Drug Prices Are High and Rising Rapidly
Rep. Waxman releases three new reports that show (1) Medicare drug plans have raised prices for popular brand-name drugs by more than 4% since January 1; (2) Medicare drug plans now charge 14% more for these drugs than the discredited Medicare drug cards previously charged; and (3) Medicare drug card providers negotiated negligible discounts of at most 3% to 5% from drug manufacturers. One of the three reports was prepared by GAO; it also finds that the Administration had advance warning that its systems would not be able to reconcile enrollment and eligibility data.

February 14, 2006
Legal Scholars Agree: Budget Bill Did Not Pass Both Houses and Is Not Valid Law
Several constitutional law experts contend that the budget bill the President signed on February 8, 2006, is "not constitutionally permissible" and "is not law." In a letter to the Democratic Leader, Rep. Waxman includes expert analyses he has gathered about the bill, which did not pass the House and Senate in identical form and therefore violates the Bicameral Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

February 9, 2006
Premature Cut-Off of Medicare Reimbursement to States Would Leave Many Seniors Without Life-Saving Medications
Rep. Waxman joined his colleagues in writing to Mark McClellan, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), to ask that CMS postpone their February 15 cut-off for reimbursing States covering drug costs in the wake of Medicare Part D problems. The Members request that the cut-off be implemented only when the Medicare prescription drug plan is fully implemented and functioning properly.

February 3, 2006
Internal Documents Reveal That Medicare Drug Benefit Is Causing Chaos At Social Security Administration
In a letter to Speaker Hastert, Rep. Waxman asks for hearings on new revelations that budget cuts and the Medicare Part D program are overwhelming the Social Security Administration.

February 2, 2006
New GAO Report Raises Questions About President's Health Proposals
Rep. Waxman and Rep. Stark release a new GAO study of enrollees in Health Savings Accounts, a centerpiece of his domestic agenda. The report validates a number of concerns about the President's proposals.

February 2006
Rep. Waxman Joins his Colleagues to Introduce the "Medicare for All" Act
Press release

January 30, 2006
Democrats Announce Bill to Get Needed Medicines for Seniors
Leader Pelosi and Reps. Waxman, Dingell, Stark, Sherrod Brown, and Marion Berry unveiled their legislation to provide emergency relief to senior citizens and people with disabilities who are having trouble navigating the new Medicare prescription drug program.

January 28, 2006
Rep. Waxman Gives Radio Address on Medicare Drug Plan Flaws
Rep. Waxman delivers the Saturday Democratic Radio Address, discussing the crisis surrounding the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit that went into effect January 1 and how the crisis could have been prevented through honest, open government.

January 27, 2006
Rep. Waxman Requests GAO Investigation Into Multi-Billion Dollar Medicare Windfall for Drug Industry
In a letter, Rep. Waxman asks GAO to investigate new evidence that the Republican-designed program will likely result in a multi-billion dollar windfall for drug manufacturers, at the expense of U.S. taxpayers.

January 25, 2006
Dem. Leaders Call Drug Bill Result of “Corrupt Legislative Process,” Seek Investigation into Role of Tainted Lobbying Group
In a letter to Speaker Hastert, Democratic Leader Pelosi, Democratic Whip Hoyer, and Ranking Member Waxman ask for a congressional investigation into the role played by the Alexander Strategy Group, a lobbying firm closely linked to Tom DeLay and Jack Abramoff, in the passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug Act and the drafting of the budget reconciliation bill currently before the Congress.

January 20, 2006
Rep. Waxman Holds Briefing on Medicare Drug Benefit
Rep. Waxman hosts a briefing to examine how the new Medicare drug benefit is working. Medicare beneficiaries, doctors, and pharmacists, as well as state health officials, testify about their experiences with the benefit's implementation.

December 22, 2005
HHS Misleading Claim on Medicare Drug Plan Enrollment
Today, the Bush Administration released information on enrollment in the new Medicare prescription drug program. In a letter to Administrator McClellan, Rep. Waxman asks several serious questions about the extent to which the program is functioning as planned.

November 30, 2005
New Reports Find Major Flaws in Medicare Drug Card Program
Two new GAO reports released by Rep. Waxman show that the Bush Administration failed in implementing and enforcing virtually every aspect of the Medicare drug card program, calling into question the ability of the Administration to oversee the vastly more complicated Medicare drug benefit.

November 22, 2005
New Medicare Drug Plans Fail to Provide Meaningful Drug Discounts
A new report by Rep. Waxman shows that the drug prices offered by ten leading Medicare drug plans are over 80% higher than federally negotiated prices and over 60% higher than Canadian prices. The Medicare drug plan prices are even higher than the prices available from Drugstore.com and Costco stores.

October 24, 2005
Rep. Waxman Asks GAO to Examine Accuracy, Utility of Medicare Drug Benefit Information
Reps. Waxman, Rangel, Dingell, Stark, and Sherrod Brown ask GAO to investigate whether information that seniors are now receiving from CMS and from private drug plans about the Medicare drug benefit is helpful and accurate.

March 1, 2005
HHS Questioned on Continued Use of Video News Releases
Reps. Waxman, Miller, and DeLauro write to HHS about a recent report that the agency continues to use prepackaged video news releases as part of the Department's public relations
efforts.

February 2, 2005
Retiree Provisions in Final Medicare Regulations Could Further Jeopardize Employer-Sponsored Drug Coverage
Rep. Waxman joins his colleagues in writing to the President to ask that the Administration work with Congress to protect, not erode, health care coverage for our nation's retirees.

January 10, 2005
GAO Asked to Investigate Prescription Drug Card Program
Rep. Waxman asks GAO to investigate aspects of the prescription drug discount card program established under the new Medicare law, including the selection of sponsoring organizations and the value of the cards for beneficiaries.

January 7, 2005
Lawmakers Call on President to Renounce Use of Covert Propaganda
Democratic Leader Pelosi, Rep. Waxman, Rep. George Miller, Rep. Obey, and Rep. Cummings write the President about three recent incidents in which taxpayer funds have been improperly used by Administration officials to pay for covert efforts to influence public opinion.

October 4, 2004
Republican ‘Modernization’ Act Behind Record Increase in Medicare Premiums
An analysis by the minority staffs of the House Government Reform, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, and Budget Committees finds that the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act is responsible for more than half of the record increase in Medicare premiums that seniors will pay in 2005.

September 28, 2004
New Medicare Rules May Increase Risk from Unregulated Compounded Drug Copies
Rep. Waxman asks HHS to revise the proposed Medicare rule that would allow the use of pharmacist-made copies of brand-name prescription drugs to ensure that seniors are not exposed to the serious health risks posed by these non-FDA approved drugs.

September 27, 2004
Analyzing the Local Impact of Medicare Premium Increases
Reports prepared by the Special Investigations Division analyze the local impact of the recent record 17% increase in Medicare premiums, the majority of which is directly attributable to provisions contained in the new Medicare law.

September 24, 2004
CMS Urged to Reconsider Citizenship Records Requirement
Rep. Waxman, Sen. Kennedy, Sen. Bingaman, and Rep. Solis urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider a proposal that would require hospitals seeking reimbursement to maintain records on the citizenship of patients who are undocumented immigrants.

September 22, 2004
Medicare Drug Cards Provide Few Discounts for Seniors
A series of reports prepared by the Special Investigations Division finds that the prices on prescription drugs offered by the new Medicare drug cards are far higher than discounted prices available in Canada or negotiated by the federal government, and little better than prices already available to seniors through internet pharmacies.

July 15, 2004
HHS IG Summary Fails to Answer Critical Questions
Reps. Waxman, Dingell, Rangel, Stark and Sherrod Brown ask that the acting IG and staff investigators meet with them to discuss the scope, focus, and results of their investigation into the withholding of the Medicare cost estimates.

July 6, 2004
Medicare Drug Card Website Rife with Errors
Reps. Waxman and Slaughter reveal that the pharmacy information on the Medicare.gov web contains multiple errors, incorrectly identifying the Medicare drug cards that can be used at many pharmacies.

June 22, 2004
Failure to Investigate Withholding of Medicare Cost Estimates is Dereliction of Constitutional Duties
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Frist and Speaker Hastert, Senate Democratic Leader Daschle, House Democratic Leader Pelosi, Rep. Waxman, and ten other congressional leaders call the failure to investigate the Administration’s withholding of Medicare cost estimates from Congress a gross abdication of Congress’ constitutional oversight responsibility. In a letter to the President, the members ask the President to provide complete answers to straightforward questions on his role in the matter.

June 2, 2004
Prescription Drug Cards Still Provide Few Discounts to Seniors
An analysis released by Rep. Waxman finds that the Administration’s claims that competition would reduce drug prices under the new Medicare discount cards have yet to materialize.

May 17, 2004
Members File Suit To Force Administration To Release Medicare Cost Estimates
All 19 members of the Government Reform Committee minority file suit against the Secretary of Health and Human Services to compel the Administration to release cost estimates prepared by the HHS Actuary during congressional consideration of Medicare reform legislation.

April 29, 2004
Medicare Drug Cards Provide Little or No Savings for Seniors
An analysis prepared at the request of Rep. Waxman finds that prices under the new prescription drug cards are far higher than prices in Canada and those negotiated by the federal government, and are no lower than prices currently available to Medicare beneficiaries.

April 26, 2004
HHS Refuses to Release Medicare Cost Estimates
All 19 minority members of the Government Reform Committee write to Secretary Thompson to protest HHS's obstruction of their investigation into the withholding of the cost data. The members officially expand their Seven Member request to include the communications between HHS and congressional leadership.

March 17, 2004
Rep. Waxman Asks for Hearings on Medicare Cost Estimates, Threatens Suit over Documents
In a letter to Chairman Davis of the House Government Reform Committee, Rep. Waxman requests a hearing on the allegations that the HHS Actuary was told he would be fired if he shared with Congress estimates on the true costs of the Medicare prescription drug proposal. In a letter to HHS Secretary Thompson, Rep. Waxman threatens legal action under the "Seven Member Rule" if the Secretary continues to refuse to release the cost estimates.

March 2, 2004
Members Demand Information on Medicare Cost Estimates
In response to reports that the true cost of the Medicare prescription drug legislation was concealed, 19 committee members demand the release of the cost estimates prepared by the Administration during congressional consideration of the legislation.

February 24, 2004
Drug Benefits CEO May Have Helped Write Medicare Law Provisions
Reps. Waxman and Sherrod Brown write HHS Secretary Thompson, OMB Director Bolten, and White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales about reports that a pharmaceutical benefits management company CEO may have helped write provisions of the recent Medicare law that govern the prescription drug card program.

February 3, 2004
Administration Asked to Release Medicare Cost Estimates
Ranking Members Waxman, Rangel, and Dingell ask HHS to release cost estimates prepared by the Administration during congressional consideration of the Medicare prescription drug legislation.

November 21, 2003
Rep. Waxman's Floor Statement in Opposition to the Conference Report on HR 1

November 20, 2003
Ending Price Discrimination vs. Republican Medicare Proposal
Eliminating international drug price discrimination would provide most seniors with a greater reduction in drug costs than the Republican Medicare proposal -- and at no cost to the taxpayer.

September 8, 2003
GAO Study Shows Prescription Drug Cards Fail to Provide Meaningful Savings to Seniors
Reps. Waxman, Stark, Brown and Ross release a GAO study showing prescription drug discount cards produce only minimal savings at best.

March 4, 2003
Rep. Waxman's Statement on the Introduction of Medicare Prescription Drug Legislation
Enactment of this legislation would have ensured the basic reform that Medicare needs: to adjust its benefit package to include coverage of prescription drugs, available for all Medicare beneficiaries.

June 18, 2002
Rep. Waxman's Statement at the House Energy and Commerce Committee Markup of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit and Other Proposals

January 3, 2002
New Data on Administration Prescription Drug Card Plan
Reps. Waxman, Dingell, Rangel, Stark, Brown, and Ross wrote to HHS Secretary Thompson describing new GAO data that indicates that the drug cards proposed by the Bush Administration are unlikely to provide significant benefits for seniors.

July 23, 2002
Administration's Changes Undermine Medical Privacy Rule
Six members write to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson with questions on the Administration's proposed changes to the medical privacy rule, including the creation of a broad loophole through which drug companies could access patient health records without patient permission.

March 4, 2002
Preserving Financial Protections in Medicare
Rep. Waxman, along with Rep. Sherrod Brown, Rep. Pete Stark, Rep. Ben Cardin, and Sen. Dick Durbin, wrote to Secretary Tommy Thompson with concerns about the growing number of "concierge" physician practices that are charging seniors annual membership fees. Secretary Thompson wrote back that these practices do not necessarily violate Medicare billing laws. On May 16, Rep. Waxman became an original co-sponsor of H.R. 4752, which would bar membership fees to Medicare patients.

November 16, 2001
Rep. Waxman and Sen. Grassley Object to Efforts to Weaken Federal Nursing Home Regulations
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed weakening nursing home regulations, making it more difficult to cite nursing homes for widespread violations of standards which protect residents from abuse, restraints, pressure sores, and other problems. On November 16, Rep. Waxman and Sen. Charles Grassley sent CMS Administrator Thomas Scully a letter objecting to the Administration's proposal.

July 12, 2001
Prescription Drug Discount Cards
President Bush has proposed offering drug discount cards to senior citizens, which would allow them to purchase their medications at a reduced rate. However, a report by the Special Investigations Division has found that similar programs currently being offered by private companies provide little, if any, savings.

April 11, 2001
Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act
Reps. Waxman and Tom Allen, along with over 100 other members of Congress, introduced the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act (H.R. 1400). This bill will protect seniors from price discrimination and allow Medicare beneficiaries to purchase drugs at substantially reduced prices. The legislation achieves these goals by allowing pharmacies that serve Medicare beneficiaries to purchase drugs at the low “average foreign price.”

February 15, 2001
Rep. Waxman's Statement at the Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health Hearing on Medicare Reform

August 17, 2000
Prescription Drug Coverage
A report for Rep. Waxman by the Special Investigations Division found that over one-third of California seniors lack prescription drug coverage. In addition, the report found that many seniors in the state skip or reduce dosages of medications because they cannot afford to follow their doctors’ prescriptions; that the number of uninsured seniors in California is increasing; and that even seniors in the state who have drug insurance encounter difficulty affording their medicine.

April 17, 2000
Medicare’s Failure to Cover Kidney Medication Costs Taxpayers Millions
At the request of Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey, the Special Investigations Division investigated Medicare’s coverage of prescription drugs for kidney dialysis patients.

Introduction | Statements and Letters | CRS Reports | Helpful Links | Member Reports