[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6033]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISCOUNT CARDS

  (Mr. HASTERT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, 2 months from today, American senior 
citizens will begin to realize discounts on their pharmaceutical 
medications. June 1 is when Medicare-approved prescription drug 
discount cards hit the streets, and savings between 10 and 25 percent 
on their life-saving drugs take effect.
  This is a much-needed first step for seniors seeking relief on their 
monthly bills. These Medicare-approved discount cards are part of the 
new Medicare law that Congress passed and the President signed. It 
includes coverage of pharmaceutical costs, some new preventative care 
benefits, like free physical exams and better care for seniors with 
chronic illnesses.
  To learn more, I am urging my constituents in northern Illinois to 
call 1-800-MEDICARE, that is, 1-800-MEDICARE, or log on to 
WWW.MEDICARE.gov. These two informative sources run by the Department 
of Health and Human Services will provide unfiltered, unfettered news 
seniors can use about their new drug benefits.

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