Medicare Drug Benefit Legislation not a Cure-All for Failing Healthcare System

Interview with Dr. Quentin Young, Physicians for a National Health Program, conducted by Scott Harris

In early 2000, President Clinton proposed the inclusion of prescription drug benefits in the nation's Medicare health program, but with disagreements on how the program should be organized, Congress failed to act. Now more than three years later, legislation which will provide drug subsidies to senior citizens has been passed both by the House and Senate. Although differences in the two chamber's bills still need to be reconciled, the total package of benefits is estimated to cost $400 billion over the next decade. The legislation will offer beneficiaries the option of choosing either private providers or traditional fee for service plans.

The Bush administration maintains that shifting Medicare toward private, for-profit providers will reduce costs through competition. But opponents of the measure say the legislation will impose additional costs on Medicare beneficiaries, leave large gaps in coverage and increase the program's reliance on private insurance to provide medical services. According to a recent study from the Urban Institute, Medicare's government run program has more effectively controlled health care costs than private insurers.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Dr. Quentin Young, national coordinator with Physicians for a National Heath Program and a practicing physician for five decades. Dr. Young assesses the Medicare prescription drug plan and explains why he advocates the adoption of a single payer, universal health care system.

Contact Physicians for a National Health Program by calling (312) 782-6006 or visit their website at www.pnhp.org

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: http://www.btlonline.org

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