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Committee on Ways and Means For Immediate Release Medicare Celebrates Thirty-Seven Years;
WASHINGTON - Today the Nation’s largest health insurance program, which aids nearly 40 million American seniors, celebrates its thirty-seventh year in service. The House of Representatives delivered an early present in celebration of Medicare’s birthday: prescription drug coverage for all seniors. The House passed on June 28, 2002, the Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002 (H.R. 4954). “Medicare has improved the lives of millions of our nation’s seniors. Yet to fulfill its true promise, we cannot be satisfied with the status quo. Prescription drugs are just as important to modern health care as hospital and physician services were when Medicare was enacted 37 years ago,” Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) said. “The House has already added this 21st Century treatment - prescription drugs - to Medicare as a permanent entitlement that is available to all seniors. We’re waiting on the Senate to do the same,” Thomas said.
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