July 30, 2003
Oakland, CA -- Today, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) celebrated the 38th anniversary of Medicare and vowed to keep the Democrats’promise to strengthen the program by continuing to fight for a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. Today marks 38 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill that created the Medicare program.
“Today we celebrate the birthday of Medicare,” said Lee. “38 years ago today, the bill was signed that created the Medicare program, enabling those of us in government to fulfill our responsibility to help our seniors.”
“Medicare beneficiaries have waited a long time for help with prescription drugs, but unfortunately, the Republican legislation, recently passed by Congress, falls far short of what seniors and disabled Americans have been waiting for,” Lee said. “We must pass a prescription drug benefit under Medicare that is understandable and beneficial to all seniors. We must ensure that Medicare will live on to serve future generations.”
Lee said Democrats are fighting for a prescription drug benefit that is affordable, guaranteed, available to all, and provided as part of the Medicare program. Republicans are trying to pass a complicated plan that would privatize Medicare and force seniors to leave the care of trusted doctors and hospitals, without lowering drug prices or guaranteeing coverage for all Americans. In fact, provisions in the House GOP Medicare bill will cause a drastic increase in premiums for seniors in the traditional Medicare program, according to the Joint Economic Committee.
The Republican plan also turns Medicare over to HMOs, which would be extremely disadvantageous for millions of seniors in rural areas. More than 80% of rural beneficiaries live in counties with no HMO programs, and if HMOs don’t materialize in these areas, the House bill has no fallback coverage.
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee Celebrates 38th Anniversary of Medicare
Vows to Keep Fighting to Pass a Prescription Drug Benefit Under Medicare
Oakland, CA -- Today, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) celebrated the 38th anniversary of Medicare and vowed to keep the Democrats’promise to strengthen the program by continuing to fight for a prescription drug benefit under Medicare. Today marks 38 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the bill that created the Medicare program.
“Today we celebrate the birthday of Medicare,” said Lee. “38 years ago today, the bill was signed that created the Medicare program, enabling those of us in government to fulfill our responsibility to help our seniors.”
“Medicare beneficiaries have waited a long time for help with prescription drugs, but unfortunately, the Republican legislation, recently passed by Congress, falls far short of what seniors and disabled Americans have been waiting for,” Lee said. “We must pass a prescription drug benefit under Medicare that is understandable and beneficial to all seniors. We must ensure that Medicare will live on to serve future generations.”
Lee said Democrats are fighting for a prescription drug benefit that is affordable, guaranteed, available to all, and provided as part of the Medicare program. Republicans are trying to pass a complicated plan that would privatize Medicare and force seniors to leave the care of trusted doctors and hospitals, without lowering drug prices or guaranteeing coverage for all Americans. In fact, provisions in the House GOP Medicare bill will cause a drastic increase in premiums for seniors in the traditional Medicare program, according to the Joint Economic Committee.
The Republican plan also turns Medicare over to HMOs, which would be extremely disadvantageous for millions of seniors in rural areas. More than 80% of rural beneficiaries live in counties with no HMO programs, and if HMOs don’t materialize in these areas, the House bill has no fallback coverage.
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