What Difference Will the Medicare Rx Bill Make?; NCPA Briefing To Feature Medicare Trustee, Key Staff, Release of New Findings

10/29/2003

From: Richard Walker or Sean Tuffnell of the National Center for Policy Analysis, 800-859-1154 or rwalker@ncpa.org

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- As Congressional negotiators put the finishing touches on the Medicare Prescription Drug Conference Report, the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) will host a Capitol Hill briefing featuring Medicare Trustee Thomas R. Saving and key House and Senate staff on the shape of the emerging compromise and its likely impact on private insurance, drug access and price, and its impact on federal finances.

The NCPA will also release several new studies on Medicare issues. Among the new findings are:

-- Contrary to common perception, only a small portion (perhaps less than 5 percent) of the $400 billion will go for the purchase of additional drugs.

-- Seniors usually pay drug prices as low as what HMOs pay, and sometimes lower.

-- New Medicare coverage under the bill will mostly replace existing coverage.

The briefing will also address the extent to which the bill will add to long-term entitlement debt.

WHAT:

The Likely Effects of the Medicare Rx Bill; NCPA Capitol Hill Briefing

WHO:

-- Dr. Thomas R. Saving, Public Trustee of Social Security and Medicare & NCPA Senior Fellow

-- Dr. Scott Nystrom, Senior Policy Advisor, Senate Aging Committee

-- Joel White, Professional Staff, House Ways & Means Committee

-- John C. Goodman, Moderator and President, NCPA

WHEN:

Thursday, Oct. 30, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE:

HC-6, U.S. Capitol

As seating is limited, please R.S.V.P. to the contact listed above.

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The NCPA is an internationally known nonprofit, nonpartisan research institute with offices in Dallas and Washington, D. C. that advocates private solutions to public policy problems. We depend on the contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations that share our mission. The NCPA accepts no government grants.