Congressman Ted Deutch has signed on as a cosponsor H.R. 3613, the bipartisan Part D Beneficiary Appeals Fairness Act, which would give seniors on Medicare Part D who rely on ‘specialty tier’ drugs an appeals process when dealing with the high costs of these prescriptions. Private and employer health insurance plans classify prescriptions using tiers to differentiate among generic, brand name and “non-preferred” brand name drugs. Any medication costing more than $600 is automatically placed on a specialty tier that requires patients to pay from 25 to 33 percent or more – rather than a flat rate. Seniors are continuing to see their health plans place drugs used to treat chronic illnesses on specialty tiers.

Congressman Deutch represents over 200,000 retirees who call Florida's 19th district home. For many seniors on a fixed income, these life-saving drugs for everything from cancer to rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis can cost upwards of $1,700 per month. Seniors who can’t afford the medication often go without treatment.  As a member of the House Democratic Seniors Task Force, Congressman Deutch will continue to fight for and protect affordable health care for our seniors.

Read the complete bill text here.