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Committee on Ways and Means 

For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office 202-225-8933
July 11, 2002

WASHINGTON - Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) urged the Senate to bring a Medicare bill, coupled with a prescription drug program, to the floor for a vote. Last month, the House passed H.R. 4954, the Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002, to strengthen Medicare and provide immediate savings on prescription drugs for seniors.

“The contrast is clear. The House has acted. The Senate has not,” said Thomas. “A prescription drug benefit under Medicare for our seniors is long overdue. I urge the Senate leadership to stop holding press conferences and instead move legislation out of Committee and off the floor of the Senate, then hold a news conference.”

The House-passed bill concentrates on four areas: Lowering costs of prescription drugs now; guaranteeing all senior citizens prescription drug coverage under Medicare; improving Medicare with more choices and savings and strengthening Medicare for the future. The plan offers:

• Immediate savings through a prescription drug savings card and $3 billion of assistance to low income individuals in 2003 and 2004;
• A premium around $33 per month, roughly $1 a day;
• Eighty percent coverage for seniors spending $250 - $1,000 per year;
• Fifty percent coverage for seniors spending $1,001 - $2,000 per year;
• Complete catastrophic coverage for those spending over $3,700 per year;
• Extra assistance for low-income seniors (up to $17,500), including a fully subsidized premium and cost-sharing;
• Saves seniors $18 billion over ten years from pharmaceutical manufacturers by giving seniors lower prices on their prescription drugs and
• Greater plan choices and flexibility for seniors.