Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003

On June 25th of 2003, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and

Modernization Act of 2003 was introduced to the House. This bill would provide drug

benefits to many, regardless of income or health status, and also would allow access to more coverage options such as options which provide enhanced benefits with cost-sharing, and additional beneficiary protections, assistance such as access to negotiated prices, catastrophic coverage limits, and premium subsidiaries for certain low-income beneficiaries. (Thomas pg.1) This bill is meant to amend the Social Security Act to provide a voluntary prescription drug benefit under the Medicare program. Among this, is to strengthen and improve the Medicare program and for other purposes not mentioned. ("All Actions") Medicare has become a primary payer for drugs, this includes seniors that are also eligible for Medicaid. Medicare has many

rules and regulations, yet this program/bill helps so many senior citizens and low income families.

On June 27th, 2003 the bill was passed in the House; Recorded votes were 216 - 215. Later the bill was sent to the Senate where it passed senate in lieu of S.1 with an amendment

and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent. The bill was sent to the President on December 7th, 2003 and signed by the very next day which in turn made H.R. 1, the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003, Public Law No. 108-173.

Representative Dennis J. Hastert, House Rules, Sen. William H. Frist and Rep.

Charles B. Rangel are the supporters of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement,

and Modernization Act of 2003. Along with Representative Hastert, there are twenty other cosponsors; Rep. Michael Bilirakis, Rep. Jeb Bradley, Rep. Max Burns, Rep. Roy Blunt,

Rep. Ginny Brown - Waite, Rep Shelley Moore Capito, Rep Tome DeLay, Rep Ernie Fletcher, Rep. Sam Graves, Rep Jim McCrery, Rep. Collin C. Peterson, Rep. Rob Simmons, Rep.

W.J. (Billy) Tauzin, Rep. Jennifer Dunn, Rep. Porter J. Goss, Rep Nancy L. Johnson, Rep.

Devin Nunes, Rep. Deborah Pryce, Rep John Sullivan, and Rep. William M. Thomas. (Thomas; Cosponsors)

Amendments for H.R.1, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 are to provide prescription drug coverage for all Medicare beneficiaries, enhance Medicare Choice plans, include payments for oncology providers

and related cancer drug therapy programs; improve rural health