Dear John,

We cannot let up now. As soon as members of Congress reconvene on September 20, they will be debating several must-pass bills, including a budget reconciliation package. And we need to be ready to ramp up pressure on lawmakers to ensure that critical measures to lower prescription drug costs and expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision care remain intact in the final reconciliation bill.

Right now, opponents of expanding Medicare and lowering drug costs are putting enormous pressure of their own on lawmakers to reject these needed benefit improvements to Medicare. And they’re citing the latest Medicare Trustees Report to make the case that we need to cut Medicare funding, not improve it.

The fact is lowering prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with drug companies will save this program billions of dollars! And that savings can then be applied to expanding Medicare to include dental, hearing and vision care, which are essential for healthy aging. These benefit improvements made under Medicare Part B will indirectly benefit Medicare Part A (the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund) because they will help keep more older Americans out of the hospital.

It’s time for members of Congress to deliver to older Americans relief from punishing drug prices — and to provide them with care for their eyes, ears and teeth, which are the gateways to improved overall health.

We simply cannot sit back and hope for the best. Now is the time when your lawmakers need to hear from you personally and directly. So please ensure Medicare expansion and prescription drug pricing reform remain intact in the final reconciliation bill voted on in Congress by signing our Urgent Petition today!

Sincerely,

Max Richtman
President & CEO