TESTIMONY OF

MARK McCLELLAN, MD, Ph.D.

ADMINISTRATOR

CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES

ON

TITLES I AND II:  FEATURES OF THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS

BEFORE THE

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

September 14, 2004

Chairman Grassley, Senator Baucus, distinguished members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me here today to discuss the most dramatic and innovative modifications to the Medicare program since its inception in 1965.   I want to thank the Committee members for your interest in the Medicare program, your hard work on the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), and your support of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as we work to implement this important new law. 

The two regulations we are here to discuss today lay out CMS’ proposal for delivering new services and benefits created by this Congress and the Administration in the MMA.  This new law provides better benefits -- including prescription drug savings of more than 50 percent for the average senior without coverage -- and improved access to health care services through Medicare.  These proposed regulations create a new voluntary prescription drug benefit under Medicare, as well as new health plan choices, improved health care for rural America and improved preventive care benefits. Entire testimony (PDF, 229 KB)