[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 269 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 269

 Expressing support for legislation to strengthen and improve Medicare 
   in order to ensure comprehensive benefits for current and future 
  retirees, including access to a Medicare prescription drug benefit.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                 May 14 (legislative day, May 9), 2002

  Mr. Craig (for himself, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. Inhofe) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Finance

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing support for legislation to strengthen and improve Medicare 
   in order to ensure comprehensive benefits for current and future 
  retirees, including access to a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Whereas our Nation's senior citizens and the disabled need and deserve the 
        highest quality health care available;
Whereas the Medicare Program has not fundamentally changed since its creation 
        over 35 years ago and has not kept pace with recent improvements in 
        health care delivery;
Whereas the Medicare trustees report that the current system is not sustainable;
Whereas Medicare only provides limited access to many lifesaving and health 
        enhancing pharmaceutical and biological medicines;
Whereas America's seniors need a comprehensive, voluntary outpatient 
        prescription drug program under Medicare; and
Whereas Medicare prescription drug coverage can best be provided through 
        comprehensive steps to modernize and strengthen the Medicare Program: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) by September 30, 2002, the Senate should consider legislation to 
        comprehensively modernize the Medicare Program under which beneficiaries 
        will be offered more choices, including outpatient prescription drug 
        coverage;
            (2) this legislation should ensure that the Medicare Program's 
        financial solvency is preserved and protected;
            (3) this legislation should permit beneficiaries to choose from a 
        variety of coverage options, including an option to continue benefits 
        under the current plan as well as an option to choose from benefits 
        offered by multiple competing, private insurance plans that rely on 
        competition to control costs and improve quality; and
            (4) this legislation should provide at least one option providing 
        comprehensive outpatient prescription drug coverage to Medicare 
        beneficiaries, including those having high prescription drug costs.
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