AARP, with 35 million members nationwide and more than 194,000 members in Maine, is pleased that at long last we are on the threshold of meaningful Medicare prescription drug coverage. Now we need to get the job done. As the House and Senate work in conference to craft a final bill, it is important not to fall into another round of fruitless negotiations and political gridlock.

First, we urge the House and Senate to avoid partisan bickering. Both Democrats and Republicans must work together. We need to keep focused on the goal – a meaningful, affordable prescription drug benefit in Medicare.

Second, we recognize that progress is being made. Both the Senate and the House bills provide a voluntary drug benefit and offer the same support for those in private plans or traditional Medicare. They also provide significant help for most low-income beneficiaries and those with the highest drug costs. These are big steps forward.

Third, we believe differences can be worked out and a final bipartisan bill can be passed and signed by the president this year.

Our members tell us they want to make sure the final bill does not undermine the coverage they have now. They do not oppose the addition of new private plan options to Medicare, but they believe that those who choose to stay in traditional Medicare should not be penalized.

They feel that everyone should be guaranteed access to coverage, everywhere in the country. They do not want to see Medicare’s fundamental contract as a social insurance program broken by limiting coverage based on income. They want to make sure that all low-income people are eligible for the Medicare drug benefit. No one should be put at risk by state budget shortages affecting Medicaid. And they want to make sure that retirees don’t lose the good employer-provided coverage they already have.

All of these concerns can be resolved. Reps. Mike Michaud and Tom Allen and Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins must do all within their power to work out the differences. Seniors and their families have waited too long for a meaningful and affordable prescription drug coverage in Medicare.

Given the prominence of drug therapies in the practice of medicine in the 38 years since the creation of Medicare, if the program were being designed today, not including a prescription drug benefit would be as absurd as not covering doctor visits or hospital stays. Prescription drugs are keeping people healthier and out of hospitals and nursing homes. This trend will only accelerate when more people have access to the drugs they need at prices they can afford.

A prescription drug benefit in Medicare is good medicine not only for older Americans, but also for an ailing health care system. The time to get the job done in Congress is now.

AARP Maine urges our congressional delegation and the entire Congress – both Houses and both parties – to listen to AARP’s members and their families. We want the Congress to work out differences and bring an improved bill to the president’s desk for signature this year.

Jud Dolphin is the state director of AARP Maine.