[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 1 (Monday, January 5, 1998)]
[Page 1]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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The President's Radio Address

December 27, 1997

    Good morning. The holidays are a time when families come together to 
celebrate the season with love. And they remind us of our bonds of duty 
to care for one another. Today I'd like to talk to you about how we're 
expanding the shield of Medicare protection to honor our parents and 
grandparents in important new ways in the new year.
    Looking back over 1997, it's clear that we achieved major reforms of 
the Medicare system that will help Americans live healthier, happier, 
longer lives. This year's bipartisan balanced budget agreement 
reaffirmed our commitment to preserving and strengthening Medicare. We 
extended the life of the Medicare Trust Fund until at least 2010. We 
made Medicare protection more affordable for low-income Americans. We 
modernized the Medicare system by expanding choice, opening up 
competition, and controlling costs. And we created a blue ribbon 
commission to examine ways to ensure that Medicare will serve baby 
boomers and our children as well as it has served our parents.
    Now, as part of the balanced budget agreement, we're also 
implementing expanded Medicare benefits to provide greater protection to 
Americans in the fight against cancer. On New Year's Day, we'll 
introduce a series of changes in Medicare that will make screening, 
prevention, and detection of cancer more affordable and frequent. We're 
ringing in the new year resolved to take new steps in our battle against 
cancer, one of mankind's oldest foes.
    First, we will guarantee the option of annual mammograms for every 
woman over 40 and, by waiving the deductible, we'll make annual breast 
cancer screenings more affordable. Right now, nearly half of older women 
do not get regular mammograms. By making mammograms more accessible and 
detecting cancer earlier, we can significantly increase the likelihood 
of successful treatment for this disease. Hillary has conducted a 
longstanding campaign to encourage older women to get these crucial 
tests, and these new changes will bring us closer to success in those 
efforts.
    Second, we're expanding coverage for the early detection of cervical 
cancer. We have sophisticated tests to pick up early signs of cervical 
cancer and, from now on, Medicare will pay for regular access to this 
lifesaving technology.
    And third, for the first time we'll now cover regular examinations 
for colon/rectal cancer. Most Americans don't receive this important 
preventive test, but when we catch this cancer early, we can beat it 
more than 90 percent of the time.
    Nearly every American family has been touched by the shadow of 
cancer. My own mother passed away just about 4 years ago from cancer, 
and especially at this time of year, I miss her a lot. So many other 
families have the same story. That's why these actions are so important. 
By detecting cancer early on we offer our loved ones one of the greatest 
gifts of all, the gifts of life, health, and many holidays to come.
    Thanks for listening. Happy holidays, and have a happy and healthy 
new year.

Note: The address was recorded at 5:16 p.m. on December 24 in the Map 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 27.