"Rep. Virgil H. Goode Jr. heard from Iris Houchens of Scottsville, whose mother quit taking her medication because she couldn't afford it.

'She didn't-let anyone know she stopped taking it. She didn't. want to be a burden,' Houchens said. 'She got so sick.'

And he heard from Constance Henderson, of Nelson County, who has a family history of heart attacks and pays $100 for 30 days' worth of cholestserol medicine, in addition to the other medication she needs. 'What would I do if
something happened and I couldn't work?' Henderson asked. 'What would I do?'

Houchens and Henderson were among 150-some people who gathered in the Scottsville Senior Center gymnasium on Tuesday to talk with the Fifth District congressman about their prescription-drug concerns.

Goode, an independent from Rocky Mount, listened to the financial worries of people who pay $600 to $900 a month for prescriptioin drugs and the frustrations of health professionals over the large amount of paperwork and red tape involved in trying to get poor patients free or discounted medication.

His response was reassuring.

'I'm optimistic that some prescription-drug plan will pass this year,' Goode said.

He noted that a plan already has been passed in the House of Representatives to cut prescription-drug costs for seniors and the disabled covered by Medicare.

'The prescription drug issue is at the forefront of concern in the U.S. House of Representatives,' he said.

Gordon Walker, chief executive officer of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging, said these health-care issues have become 'soccer-mom issues' because so many baby-boomer children are trying to help their parents get the health care they need. 'This isn't just an issue for seniors,' Walker said. 'It's an issue for everyone.'

Goode himself recalled his mother's 'tray of pills.' He said, she had to consume 18 pills a day at the end of her life; she died at 87.

'I know how important those drugs are,' he said.

Goode said he supports a bill that:

• Has a catastrophic gap that will cover any costs over $6,000.
• Pays the premiums and deductibles for people living 135 percent at or below the poverty level (roughly $12,000 a year per individual or $15,000 per couple).
• That won't borrow money from the Social Security trust fund.
• Is voluntary.

'If you have a plan that you are happy with and you don't want to participate, then you don't have to,' Goode said.

Houchens said she doesn't care what type of plan is implemented.

'Anything that we can get to help, I'm for,' she said." (Claudia Pinto, The Daily Progress, August 17, 2000).