    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 32 (Monday, August 13, 2001)]
    [Pages 1141-1142]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    The President's Radio Address

    August 4, 2001

        Good morning. This week in Washington we made dramatic progress on
    health care, and today I want to extend that progress one step further.
        On Wednesday I shook hands with Representative Charlie Norwood of
    Georgia, agreeing to strong patient protection legislation.
    Representative Norwood is the chief congressional champion of that
    issue. And together, we broke 6 years of legislative gridlock.
        The next day the House of Representatives, based on our agreement,
    passed a good bill to give patients the care they deserve without
    encouraging frivolous lawsuits. The legislation protects every patient
    in all 50 States when a health plan wrongly denies or delays needed
    care. Patients are guaranteed a quick independent review of their case
    and new Federal remedies to hold their health plans accountable. They
    get a strong new set of rights in our health care system without driving
    up the cost of health insurance and discouraging employers from offering
    coverage.
        This legislation is welcome news for patients. And I want to
    continue this momentum. Today I'm announcing a new initiative to expand
    health insurance for the uninsured by making the Medicaid program more
    accessible. Medicaid is designed to provide low income Americans with
    medical insurance. It has a noble purpose and some serious challenges.
        Medicaid spending is rising dramatically, but the number of low
    income Americans without insurance remains high. Clearly, this important
    program needs reform. Yet, States have great difficulty reforming their
    Medicaid programs because of complex and cumbersome Federal
    requirements. It is hard for States--much too hard--to navigate the
    confusing and inconsistent Federal approval process.
        Today we are changing that. My administration will adopt new rules
    that empower States to propose reforms tailored to the needs of their
    citizens. We will act on proposals quickly without making States wait
    for months or years for an answer.
        In return for this flexibility, we will ask the States to help
    ensure that their programs broaden coverage for low income Americans.
    When States are free to try new approaches, the results are encouraging.
    Just a few months ago, New York State, led by George Pataki, asked for
    and got permission to try a new idea to cover more people with the same
    dollars. As a result, as many as 619,000 more New Yorkers will soon have
    health insurance.
        In our new system, we will inform States in advance of the criteria
    for responsible Medicaid reform. If they meet those conditions, the
    Federal Government stands ready to help expand health insurance coverage
    to those who need it most--no uncertainty and no runaround.
        The goals of Medicaid are too important to get bogged down in a
    bureaucracy. My administration cares about results, about getting
    Americans broader and better medical coverage. And on issues from
    Medicaid to patient protection, we are seeing results for the American
    people.
        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 10:55 a.m. on August 3 in the Cabinet
    Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 4. In his
    address, the President referred to Gov. George E. Pataki of New York.
    The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary
    on August 3 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.

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