Trent Lott: “I do sincerely hope that we can produce a result that will provide prescription drug coverage for our low-income…”

“I do sincerely hope that we can produce a result that will provide prescription drug coverage for our low-income elderly, sick people who need this help. My concern, though, is we do it in such a way that the costs are not so extreme that they wind up causing serious problems with our Medicare funds. In short, we don't want to blow a hole in the Medicare fund and cause all kinds of problems as a result of our good intentions. That is my first concern with the Graham-Kennedy proposal. I know it has been difficult to get a cost analysis. I am still not quite sure exactly what the cost has been estimated on this proposal, although I understand it is in the range of $600 billion over a 10-year period. The other thing that bothers me is the universal coverage aspects. Regardless of income, you are going to get subsidized prescription drugs if you are, I guess, in a certain age category.”