SRES 269 IS

Expressing support for legislation to strengthen and improve Medicare in order to ensure comprehensive benefits for current and future retirees, including access to a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

May 14 (legislative day, MAY 9), 2002

Mr. CRAIG (for himself, Mr. COCHRAN, and Mr. INHOFE) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance

Expressing support for legislation to strengthen and improve Medicare in order to ensure comprehensive benefits for current and future retirees, including access to a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Whereas our Nation's senior citizens and the disabled need and deserve the highest quality health care available;

Whereas the Medicare Program has not fundamentally changed since its creation over 35 years ago and has not kept pace with recent improvements in health care delivery;

Whereas the Medicare trustees report that the current system is not sustainable;

Whereas Medicare only provides limited access to many lifesaving and health enhancing pharmaceutical and biological medicines;

Whereas America's seniors need a comprehensive, voluntary outpatient prescription drug program under Medicare; and

Whereas Medicare prescription drug coverage can best be provided through comprehensive steps to modernize and strengthen the Medicare Program: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--

(1) by September 30, 2002, the Senate should consider legislation to comprehensively modernize the Medicare Program under which beneficiaries will be offered more choices, including outpatient prescription drug coverage;

(2) this legislation should ensure that the Medicare Program's financial solvency is preserved and protected;

(3) this legislation should permit beneficiaries to choose from a variety of coverage options, including an option to continue benefits under the current plan as well as an option to choose from benefits offered by multiple competing, private insurance plans that rely on competition to control costs and improve quality; and

(4) this legislation should provide at least one option providing comprehensive outpatient prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, including those having high prescription drug costs.

END