    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [June 7, 2003]
    [Pages 611-612]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    June 7, 2003

        Good morning. This week the House and Senate will be working on one
    of the most important issues facing Congress, improving Medicare to
    offer prescription drug coverage to American seniors. And on Wednesday I
    will travel to Chicago and talk about our responsibility to give seniors
    more choices and better benefits, including help with the rising costs
    of prescription drugs.
        We have a tremendous opportunity to reform Medicare and help our
    seniors. The budget I proposed and which the Congress passed provides
    $400 billion in additional

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    funds over the next 10 years to strengthen and improve Medicare, so we
    have the resources to make reform work. We're also seeing a growing
    consensus, in both Houses of Congress and both parties, that our seniors
    need a strengthened Medicare system that includes prescription drug
    coverage. The time is right to make progress.
        Our Nation has made a binding commitment to bring affordable health
    care to our seniors. We must honor that commitment by making sure
    Medicare stays current with the needs of today's seniors. When Medicare
    was launched 38 years ago, medicine focused on surgery and hospital
    stays, and that is mainly what Medicare covers. Today, doctors routinely
    treat their patients with prescription drugs, preventative care, and
    groundbreaking medical devices, but Medicare coverage has not kept pace
    with these changes. Our goal is to give seniors the best, most
    innovative care. This will require a strong, up-to-date Medicare system
    that relies on innovation and competition, not bureaucratic rules and
    regulations.
        My views on Medicare are clear. First, those who like the Medicare
    system as it is should be able to stay just where they are and also
    receive prescription drug benefits.
        Second, those who want more coverage for preventative care and other
    benefits should be able to choose from multiple health plans under an
    enhanced Medicare program. This option would be similar to the health
    care coverage available to every Federal employee. If that coverage is
    good enough for Members of Congress and Federal employees, it is good
    for our seniors.
        Third, seniors who want the benefits of managed care plans,
    including prescription drug coverage, should be able to choose from a
    range of plans that best fit their personal needs.
        And fourth, we must provide extra help for low-income seniors, so
    that all seniors will have the ability to choose the Medicare option
    that serves them best, and every senior will have the option of a
    prescription drug benefit.
        In a Medicare system that reflects these principles, every senior in
    America would enjoy better benefits than they do today. And they would
    continue to benefit from the most important strength of American
    medicine, the ability to choose your own doctor. We want seniors and
    doctors, not Government bureaucrats, to be in charge of the important
    health care decisions.
        Members of Congress are working hard on this issue, and I encourage
    their efforts. I also urge Americans to make their voices heard. If we
    work together, Congress will pass a strong Medicare bill, and our
    seniors will finally get the prescription drug benefits and choices they
    need and deserve.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 9:40 a.m. on June 6 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on June 7. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    June 6 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of
    the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this
    address.