For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 14, 2001
President Discusses Medicare
Videotaped Remarks of the President to the American Society of Anesthesiologists
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. I'm honored to have this
opportunity to speak to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
During the past few days, our nation has
experienced one of the darkest moments in our history. Yet,
even in the midst of this tragedy, the eternal lights of America's
goodness and greatness have shown through. We've seen it in the
countless Americans who gave blood or donated money. We've seen it in
the tales of heroic police officers and firemen who went into the World
Trade Centers to save lives. And we've seen it in the
simple, yet profound, gestures of love and patriotism from every part
of the American family.
It's been said that public service is not
limited to public office. And the events of the past few days have
shown how true that is. I want to thank all of you in the
American Society of Anesthesiologists for doing your part during the
difficult past few days. Whether it was the doctors who
worked over-time to help victims in New York and Washington, or those
who gave money and offered prayers, our nation is blessed by so many
dedicated health care professionals.
But the business of our nation goes
forward. America faces many challenges, including those in
health care. Let me be clear about this -- we will win the
war on terrorism, and we will also continue to fight important battles
at home. And that means my administration remains committed
to improving the quality of health care for all Americans and improving
Medicare for all seniors.
My administration remains committed to
passing a real patients' bill of rights. With your help,
we'll pass a bill that puts the care of patients in the hands of
doctors, not trial lawyers. I will continue to support
common sense reforms that enhance the rights of the patient without
unnecessarily raising the cost of health care and increasing the number
of uninsured. And I believe this can be done.
The compromise Congressman Norwood and I
forged this summer and passed by the House of Representatives
represents the best and most real solution. Simply put, it achieves
both the goals of improving the quality of health without unnecessarily
raising health care costs.
And for our seniors, we're committed to
reforming Medicare. For too long, too many doctors and too
many Medicare patients have had to fight not only illness, but also
bureaucracy. My goal in reforming Medicare is to make it
less bureaucratic and more efficient.
Here are the main principles for
strengthening and improving Medicare: Nobody on Medicare will see any
change in Medicare unless he or she wants it. There will be
new Medicare choices, and all of these new choices will offer
prescription drugs.
Medicare plans will compete by offering
better service and lower premiums. Medicare will respond
better to the needs of seniors, especially low-income seniors and
seniors with high medical bills. And Medicare modernization
will strengthen the program's long-term financial security.
These are principles which will strengthen
one of our nation's most sacred obligations, the health of our senior
citizens. We will protect seniors now, offering exciting new
services and more choices to seniors in the future, and guarantee
prescription drug coverage. And we will do it without
overtaxing our children and our grandchildren.
Medicine is constantly
improving. Medicare must keep pace. That's my
administration's commitment today, and its exciting new vision for
health care in America.
Again, thank you all for allowing me to
join you. And thanks for all you are doing to make America
great. God bless you all. And may God bless
America.
* * * * *
|