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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 31, 2002 		Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

STATEMENT BY
HHS SECRETARY TOMMY G. THOMPSON
REGARDING THE FAILURE OF THE SENATE TO PASS
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG LEGISLATION

While it is disappointing that the Senate was unable to pass Medicare prescription drug legislation before its August recess, we strongly encourage Senators to come together to get the job done upon their return after Labor Day. Meaningful prescription drug coverage for seniors is a critically important issue that the Senate cannot fail to address. The Administration believes that the Tripartisan proposal, the House-passed bill, and an improved Hagel-Ensign proposal provide clear evidence that the Senate can do far better than spending $400 billion for a drug benefit that leaves out many millions of seniors and does nothing to improve the coverage options available to seniors. We hope the Senate will continue to work to pass a Medicare drug benefit that provides real value to seniors and to the Medicare program.

The Administration has consistently urged Congressional action to strengthen Medicare and provide an overdue Medicare prescription drug benefit, to provide better and more up-to-date coverage options for all seniors and persons with disabilities. The Administration believes that Medicare drug coverage must be innovative and able to adapt to improvements in medical practice, so that seniors will never again have to wait for decades to get access to the medical coverage they need. To keep Medicare benefits, including prescription drugs, secure and to keep health care affordable for seniors, the Administration also believes that a drug benefit must be provided efficiently.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.

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Last revised: July 31, 2002