THE WHITE HOUSE AT WORK
Tuesday, May 16,
2000
PRESIDENT CLINTON:
URGING CONGRESS TO EXTEND PRESCRIPTION DRUG
COVERAGE
TO ALL MILITARY RETIREES
"At a time of unprecedented prosperity, there is no reason for
military retirees to go without prescription drugs that they need to live
longer and healthier lives. We need to show them that they count, and they can
count on us."
President Bill Clinton
Tuesday, May 16, 2000
Today, at the White House, President Clinton urged Congress to pass
legislation that would extend prescription drug coverage to military retirees
over age 65. Tomorrow, the House is scheduled to vote on the Department of
Defense Authorization bill that would extend the prescription drug coverage now
available to military retirees under the age of 65 to military retirees over
the age of 65. The President emphasized that passage of this bill will provide
long-overdue assistance to America's military retirees and assist in the
military's recruitment and retention efforts. He called on Congress to show the
same bipartisan support for providing affordable, voluntary, and accessible
prescription drug coverage to all Medicare beneficiaries.
Extending Prescription Drug Coverage to All Military
Retirees. Many of the nation's 1.4 million Medicare-eligible military
retirees lack access to affordable prescription drugs. Like other seniors,
military retirees are disproportionately uninsured and face prohibitively high
prices for these life-saving medications. And while military treatment
facilities offer retirees access to prescription drugs, nearly three out of
four live out of reach of these facilities. The House Armed Services
Committee's Authorization bill would provide affordable prescription drugs to
military retirees by giving them access to:
- Mail-order prescription drugs which are affordably priced based
on distribution and pricing agreements between the Department of Defense and
pharmaceutical companies; and
- Prescription drugs at pharmacies using both the TRICARE network
and out-of-network pharmacies.
Rewarding Military Service and Improving Recruitment and
Retention. The President pointed out that the House provision is consistent
with other steps that the federal government has taken to benefit our
servicemen and women – such as improving pay, housing, and access to
health care – by:
- Helping the nation live up to its commitment to provide needed
health care for our military retirees; and
- Assisting our efforts to attract and retain military personnel
through improvements in benefits.
Working to Extend Prescription Drugs to All Medicare
Beneficiaries. President Clinton renewed his call to Congress to enact a
voluntary Medicare prescription drug benefit that is accessible and affordable
to all beneficiaries. In his budget, President Clinton proposes a comprehensive
plan to strengthen and modernize Medicare, including a prescription drug
benefit that is:
- Voluntary;
- Accessible to all beneficiaries;
- Designed to give beneficiaries meaningful protection and
bargaining power;
- Affordable to all beneficiaries and the program; and
- Consistent with broader reform.
| 
