House approves bill protecting federal retiree drug benefit

House lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that would ensure federal retirees retain the same prescription drug benefits federal employees have after Congress approves its Medicare prescription drug legislation.

"This legislation fulfills the promise of the federal government not to eliminate prescription coverage to its retirees once a prescription drug benefit is also available through Medicare, which the House has wisely decided to add," Rep. Jo Ann Davis, R-Va., said on the House floor before the bill passed on voice vote.

Davis, who is chairwoman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency Organization, joined with House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., and Reps. Frank Wolf, R-Va., and Jim Moran, D-Va., to introduce H.R. 2631 on June 26. The legislation would prevent the possibility of a separate prescription drug plan for federal retirees. Currently federal retirees are covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP), which provides health care coverage for 9 million federal employees, retirees and their families.

House and Senate leaders are preparing to go to conference to hammer out Medicare prescription drug legislation, which includes a subsidized Medicare outpatient drug benefit.

"We do not want the total amount of coverage offered to federal retirees reduced in tough budget cycles under the assumption retirees could simply go into the Medicare plan alone," [Tom] Davis said, adding that the federal government was "leading by example."

"If the federal government cuts benefits for its retirees, how can we expect private employers to do anything but follow our lead?" Davis asked. "With this legislation, the government is saying it won't reduce its coverage for its retirees, and we send a clear message that private employers should not either."

Most House Democrats approved the bill, and some criticized Republicans for passing a Medicare prescription drug plan so parsimonious that separate legislation was needed to protect federal retirees from being forced into the plan.

"This is a good bill for federal employees, but it sheds light on what a bad bill the Medicare prescription drug benefit is for the rest of America," Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., said on the House floor Tuesday.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., accused Republicans of being disingenuous.

"The hypocrisy of claiming that Medicare beneficiaries deserve what the federal employees health program has, and then giving a prescription drug benefit that is so inferior, is breathtaking," said Waxman, who is ranking member of the House Government Reform Committee.

Following the bill's approval, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said he hoped differences could be ironed out when the Medicare prescription drug bill went to conference.

Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, introduced that chamber's version of the bill on June 26 and Senate staffers expect it to be vetted by committee before going to the full Senate for a vote.