William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry: “health care is an important but complex issue for Congress and for America's seniors. Two facts, however, seem clear…”

“health care is an important but complex issue for Congress and for America's seniors. Two facts, however, seem clear: One fact is that Medicare is currently headed toward financial collapse. The last report of the Medicare trustees shows that in nine years the income of the Medicare trust fund will not be enough to cover its expenses. After that, the problem gets much worse with the retirement of the baby boom generation. A second clear fact is that Medicare was enacted in 1965 and has been largely unchanged since then. It does not reflect modern medical practices, including our reliance upon prescription drugs. If we were designing a new federal health care program for seniors today-- rather than in 1965 when Medicare was created--we would unquestionably include some form of prescription drug coverage. Our objective then should be to update and strengthen Medicare so that it does a better job of providing health care for seniors and at the same time put Medicare on a sound financial footing so that it can be sustained through the baby boom generation retirement. This bill takes some steps in that direction. It contains some reforms that improve Medicare and give beneficiaries more control over their health care. It also adds prescription drug coverage, and there are too many seniors in my district who are not able to afford the prescription medicines they need, forcing them either to do without and become sick or to sacrifice other necessities of life.”