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President Bush on Monday signed into law landmark Medicare reform legislation that includes prescription drug benefits and has sparked a bitter fight between opponents and supporters.
Speaking at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, Bush characterized the measure as "the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's seniors since the founding of Medicare." Backers say the $400 billion Medicare Prescription Drug Modernization Act will provide much-needed help for the nation's 40 million senior citizens to buy medications; critics say it is a giveaway to drug makers and insurance companies and a prelude to the dismantling of the program.
"Our government," Bush said, "is finally bringing prescription drug coverage to the seniors of America."
"With this law, we're giving older Americans better choices and more control over their health care, so they can receive the modern medical care they deserve," he said.
In addition to the prescription drug benefits, the measure provides billions of dollars in subsidies to insurance companies and health maintenance organizations, and takes the first step toward allowing private plans to compete with Medicare.
It is the largest expansion of Medicare since the program was created in 1965, though most of its provisions won't take effect for several years. The drug benefit, for example, does not take effect until 2006. Before that, seniors will be able to purchase a discount card that could provide a 10 to 25 percent off prescription drugs.
"Our nation has made a promise, a solemn promise, to America's seniors," Bush said. "We have pledged to help our citizens find affordable medical care in the later years of life."
"These reforms are the act of a vibrant and compassionate government," Bush said.
In 2006, Medicare recipients will pay $35 per month with a $250 deductible for prescriptions. The plan will pay 75 percent of costs up to $2,250. The prescription drug provision left out a proposed guideline the president had originally sought -- requiring seniors to join an HMO to be eligible for the benefit.
The law also allows the importation of drugs from Canada -- where many are cheaper -- but only if the Food and Drug Administration has approved the drugs.
It also provides subsidies to private insurers to compete with traditional Medicare, giving seniors the opportunity to join managed-care plans, which typically cut costs by restricting patient access to specialists. That provision does not take effect until 2010.
They're all the same. I never liked Bush during his entire presidency, and I don't like Obama either. Only difference is, back then I wish it was Bernie Sanders in the WH and not Ron Paul
If he believes in the words "redistribution of wealth" he is an out and out socialist and only someone who knows nothing at all about his former life would not understand that his communist background has to have something to do with him today.
This is one of the few issues on which you and I are ever likely to agree.
Sadly, you seem to believe electing a president that is essentially Bush on steroids with regard to his socialist leanings is a good thing.
When I was a leftist when Bush was president, I thought that Bush too was not a socialist. Now that I'm a Constitutionalist and Libertarian, I now recognize that Bush is a closet socialist that believes in the hoax of global warming and carbon taxes. When you cross over and don't participate in the stupid false left-right paradigm, everything becomes all too clear. Both Obama and Bush believe in the redistribution of wealth. Bush believed it in for his cronies in the banks, and Obama believes in it for his cronies in the banks. Really liberals, Obama can give two ****s about any of you. He's crapping all over you just like Bush did to everyone else.
When I was a leftist when Bush was president, I thought that Bush too was not a socialist. Now that I'm a Constitutionalist and Libertarian, I now recognize that Bush is a closet socialist that believes in the hoax of global warming and carbon taxes. When you cross over and don't participate in the stupid false left-right paradigm, everything becomes all too clear. Both Obama and Bush believe in the redistribution of wealth. Bush believed it in for his cronies in the banks, and Obama believes in it for his cronies in the banks. Really liberals, Obama can give two ****s about any of you. He's crapping all over you just like Bush did to everyone else.
I'd rep you for this if I could but the board software says I have to spread some around first. Quoted for truth.
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