Barbara B. Kennelly, President and CEO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2002

CONTACT: LEE GOLDBERG 202/216-8376

Senate Considers Landmark Legislation that Would Ease Burden of Prescription Drugs for Seniors S. 2625 Good for Seniors, Good for Taxpayers Washington, DC -- "This week the Senate has an opportunity to pass landmark legislation that would relieve seniors suffering from the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs," Barbara B. Kennelly, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare said today. "We strongly endorse S.2625, a carefully crafted bill that provides comprehensive, guaranteed coverage and low out-of-pocket costs. This is a good drug benefit that meets the needs of beneficiaries and taxpayers," she said. "This is a critical time in the fight for a Medicare prescription drug benefit. Opportunity knocks - the question is whether the Senate will answer the call," Mrs. Kennelly said today at a press conference sponsored by the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations, a coalition of national nonprofit organizations concerned with the well-being of America's older population and committed to representing their interests in the policy-making arena. "Last month, the House approved a prescription drug bill that fails to meet the needs of seniors but at least advances the legislative process," she added. Unlike the House bill, S. 2625 has none of the gaps in coverage that would be costly for seniors and doesn't rely on for-profit companies to sell seniors coverage that many, even in the insurance industry, consider unworkable, she added. "Poll after poll show seniors want prescription drug coverage, but some Senators are reluctant to devote the necessary resources to this pressing issue," she said. "Starting today, we are contacting members and supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, by phone and by email, so they can voice their support for the Senate bill, S. 2625. The National Committee is providing members and supporters with a toll free number to call their lawmakers," Ms. Kennelly said. The toll free number is 1-800-998-0180. Statement of Barbara B. Kennelly President and CEO National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare July 16, 2002 At long last Congress has an opportunity to pass a comprehensive affordable voluntary prescription drug benefit that is part of the Medicare program. Opportunity is knocking. The question is whether the Senate will answer the call. I am here because the National Committee strongly endorses S. 2625, the Graham-Miller-Kennedy prescription drug bill. It is a carefully crafted bill that provides comprehensive, guaranteed coverage and low out-of-pocket costs. This is a good drug benefit that meets the needs of beneficiaries. Two years ago, both presidential candidates and numerous House and Senate candidates up for reelection promised a meaningful drug benefit. Recently the House passed a bill that did not live up to those promises. With the 107th Congress winding down, the Senate can seize the moment and make good on this commitment. In Washington, there are different approaches to the issue of prescription drugs. Our members want a benefit that is part of Medicare, a program that has worked so well for the last 37 years. They want a bill where everyone pays in and everyone benefits, whether they live in a big city or in a small town. At the National Committee, we get hundreds of calls from members complaining about the disruption in their life and in their medical care when a private insurer pulls out of the Medicare+Choice program. We don't want to replicate that mistake in adding prescription drug coverage that relies on private insurers. Graham-Miller-Kennedy contains a defined benefit, so seniors know their coverage won't vary from plan to plan and premiums won't vary from region to region. Under Graham-Miller-Kennedy, seniors will not have to worry about a private insurer suddenly withdrawing from the region, leaving them without coverage. For these reasons, we want to reiterate our strong support for the Graham-Miller-Kennedy prescription drug bill. We are contacting our members by phone and by email and asking them to voice their support for the Graham-Miller-Kennedy bill. We are asking them to let Congress know that they want the Senate to vote for this bill before the August recess. One in four voters in the next election will be over the age of 65. Many of them will be carefully following the debate in the coming days. They will know if they can count on their elected officials to keep promises made. The outcome of this debate can't help but effect their feelings and votes next November. The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.