[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 25984]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 NEW MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT

  (Mr. PRICE of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, can you imagine an insurance 
policy that paid thousands of dollars for the most expensive treatment 
for a disease but not a few hundred dollars for medicine to prevent 
that disease from occurring? Well, that is what Medicare has been, 
until now. Today is the first day that seniors all across our country 
can join Medicare part D.
  As a physician, I am keenly aware that medications are a mainstay of 
the treatment and prevention of disease and, with this new prescription 
drug benefit, Medicare will now assist seniors in obtaining medicines 
that can prevent serious illness. Seniors should get more choices and 
better treatment, and America will get a Medicare system that moves 
into the 21st century.
  In my district, I have held senior education seminars, trying to give 
seniors helpful information about this new and exciting program. This 
is not about politics, this is about helping those eligible for 
Medicare to select the plan that is best for them.
  I encourage all of my colleagues in medicine and in Congress to help 
seniors as they have the opportunity to participate in a new health 
program, one that should result in a more rewarding and healthier life.

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