[eabinga]

OUR SECOND GOAL IS HIGH QUALITY
, AFFORDABLE HEALTH FOR ALL
AMERICANS.
THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE
IS A MODEL OF SKILL AND
INNOVATION.
WITH THE PACE OF DISCOVERY THAT
IS ADDING GOOD YEARS TO OUR
LIVES, YET FOR MANY PEOPLE,
MEDICAL CARE COSTS TOO MUCH AND
MANY HAVE NO HEALTH COVERAGE AT
ALL.
THESE PROBLEMS WILL NOT BE
SOLVED WITH A NATIONALIZED
HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT
DICTATES COVERAGE AND RATIONS
CARE.
INSTEAD, WE MUST WORK TOWARD A
SYSTEM IN WHICH ALL AMERICANS
HAVE A GOOD INSURANCE POLICY,
CHOOSE THEIR OWN DOCTORS, AND
SENIORS AND LOW-INCOME
AMERICANS RECEIVE THE HELP THEY
NEED.
INSTEAD OF BUREAUCRATS AND
TRIAL LAWYERS AND H.M.O.'S, WE
MUST PUT DOCTORS AND NURSES AND
MUST PUT DOCTORS AND NURSES AND
PATIENTS BACK IN CHARGE OF
AMERICAN MEDICINE.

[eabinga]

HEALTH CARE REFORM MUST BEGIN
WITH MEDICARE.
MEDICARE IS A BINDING
COMMITMENT OF A CARING SOCIETY.
WE MUST RENEW THAT COMMITMENT
BY GIVING SENIORS ACCESS TO
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND NEW
DRUGS THAT ARE TRANSFORMING
HEALTH CARE IN AMERICA.
SENIORS HAPPY WITH THE CURRENT
MEDICARE SYSTEM SHOULD BE ABLE
TO KEEP THEIR COVERAGE JUST THE
WAY IT IS.
AND JUST LIKE YOU, THE MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS AND YOUR STAFFS AND
OTHER FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, ALL
SENIORS SHOULD HAVE THE CHOICE
OF A HEALTH CARE PLAN THAT
PROVIDES PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
MY BUDGET WILL COMMIT AN
ADDITIONAL $400 BILLION OVER
THE NEXT DECADE TO REFORM AND
STRENGTHEN MEDICARE.
LEADERS OF BOTH POLITICAL
PARTIES HAVE TALKED FOR YEARS
ABOUT STRENGTHENING MEDICARE.
I URGE THE MEMBERS OF THIS NEW
CONGRESS TO ACT THIS YEAR.
TO IMPROVE OUR HEALTH CARE
SYSTEM, WE MUST ADDRESS ONE OF
THE PRIME CAUSES OF HIGHER
COSTS -- THE CONSTANT THREAT
THAT PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS
WILL BE UNFAIRLY SUED.
BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE
LITIGATION, EVERYBODY PAYS MORE
FOR HEALTH CARE, AND MANY PARTS
OF AMERICA ARE LOSING FINE
DOCTORS.
NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN HEALED BY
A FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT.
I URGE THE CONGRESS TO PASS
MEDICAL LIABILITY REFORM.