Medicare
Finally, I must underscore what is both a significant accomplishment and a significant challenge for our department going forward: the new Medicare modernization act.
We are preserving the same Medicare program and building upon it with better benefits and more choices. These better benefits include prescription drug coverage to save seniors money; improved preventive care; and better access to the doctors and medical care that seniors want.
Seniors have sought prescription drug benefits and improved care for a decade. President Bush and the Congress delivered.
Our challenge at HHS over the next several years will be adding these new benefits and choices to Medicare in an efficient and cost-effective manner....as well as educating seniors about the new benefits available to them. We plan to be very aggressive in educating seniors and implementing this new law effectively.
Last Updated: February 2, 2004
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