[THIS IS THE PERIODIC BRIEFING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO ITS OFFICIALS AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF ITS HEALTH-REFORM PROGRAM. IT PROVIDES AN INSIDE LOOK AT HOW THE ADMINISTRATION IS PROMOTING ITS PLAN. THIS ITEM WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE SAME SUBJECT LINE (WITH DIFFERENT DATES) SO YOU CAN EASILY SKIP IT IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ IT.] The White House Health Care Reform Today December 7, 1993 * Throughout this week, we will be talking about how the Health Security Act impacts older Americans. Yesterday, the President and Mrs. Clinton talked with older Americans touring the White House and hosted a roundtable with older Americans in the Oval Office. Below are are highlights of the Health Security Act on issues of concern to older Americans. * Current Medicare benefits will be enhanced to include prescription drug coverage, filling a major gap in the health security of older Americans. After meeting an annual deductible of $250, the elderly will no longer have to pay the full costs of prescription drugs out-of-pocket. Beneficiaries will also pay 20 percent of the cost of each prescription up to a $1,000 annual cap. Any additional prescription costs will be fully covered by the new benefit. * Aggressive steps will be taken to slow down the costs of prescription drugs which often cost three times more here in the United States than they do in other industrialized nations. Education efforts on proper administration of medications will enhance the quality of care and quality of life for older Americans. * The Health Security plan will establish a new home and community-based care program. This will enable up to 2.2 million older Americans to receive long-term care services at home and in the community, among their friends and loved ones. The Health Security plan will improve the quality of life for Medicaid recipients in nursing homes residents by allowing them to keep $50 per month for living expenses, nearly double today's $30. States may also allow nursing home residents to keep $12,000 in assets instead of today's $2,000, yet still be eligible for Medicaid. An estimated 1.2 million nursing home residents could benefit from this change. * Under the Health Security plan, all Americans will be better able to protect themselves against the high cost of long-term care. Private long-term care insurance will be improved through the adoption of new federal standards and better consumer education. Qualified policies will receive the same tax preference as health insurance, making them more affordable as well. * Medicare will continue primarily as a fee-for-service health program but will offer beneficiaries a wider range of health plans, including the option to enroll in a preferred provider network, or a health maintenance organization. After a state joins the new system, newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries will be able to choose to join Medicare or remain in their alliance-certified health plan. States will eventually have the option of integrating all their citizens, including Medicare beneficiaries , into alliances or a single payer system. But they will be required to submit a plan to the Secretary of Health and Human Services for approval. They must guarantee that all Medicare beneficiaries have equal or better coverage in the new system than under Medicare, at no additional cost to the Medicare program.