Asa Hutchinson: “The fact is, while Senator Durbin made that comment, every State does have a Medicaid program that offers prescription…”

“The fact is, while Senator Durbin made that comment, every State does have a Medicaid program that offers prescription drugs today. In addition, they have State employee drug programs already in existence. These programs are separate from the State pharmaceutical assistance programs, of which 25 currently exist. So Senator Durbin's argument is unfair and unjustified because the money given to the States is not required to be used to only start a new pharmaceutical assistance program. They can be used to expand the existing Medicaid drug programs. So Governor Bush's helping hand drug plan provides greater assistance to low-income seniors, and provides it now, while Vice President Gore's plan requires an 8-year phase-in for those drug benefits. So I suggest that we are getting a lot of demagogy. The Patients' Bill of Rights is the final issue I wanted to talk about, but I will reserve that for another time. I will say this, and say it clearly: We have an active conference that has been working, and working hard.”