Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company The New
York Times
September 8, 2001, Saturday, Late Edition -
Final
SECTION: Section A; Page 9; Column
3; National Desk
LENGTH: 183 words
HEADLINE: Senator Plans Bill To Save Drug Cards
BYLINE: AP
DATELINE: WASHINGTON, Sept. 7
BODY: A Senate Republican ally of President Bush's
said today that he would introduce a bill that would let the administration
promote a Medicare prescription drug card program that has
been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
The
senator, Bill Frist of Tennessee, said he supported Mr. Bush's plan to give what
amounts to a government seal of approval to the discount cards. The plan,
federal officials say, will help older Americans afford essential but expensive
medicines as Congress grapples with adding prescription drug coverage to
Medicare.
An injunction filed on Thursday by Judge
Paul Friedman of United States District Court would keep the program from
starting for several months. Drugstore chains filed a lawsuit in July, arguing
that the plan was "clandestine and unlawful" because federal officials did not
plan to pay for the discounts.
The court said the
administration lacked the legal authority to begin the plan. Officials were set
to promote the cards and other private programs available to Medicare recipients
in a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign this fall.
Document 354 of 532. 