[THIS IS THE DAILY 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 October 25, 1993 * Virtually every health reform proposal being considered on Capitol Hill calls for slowing the growth in spending on Medicare and Medicaid and using the savings as a source of financing for reform. But unlike most of the other proposals, the President's plan reinvests that money in new benefits for older Americans and the disabled. * The President's plan preserves the Medicare program, and protects Medicare beneficiaries by providing them with a new benefit so important to millions of seniors-- coverage for prescription drugs. * It also uses Medicare savings to begin funding a new home and community-based long-term care program, which will provide needed services to elderly and disabled Americans who would otherwise be at risk for entering a nursing home. Finally, it increases financial protection for seniors who do enter nursing homes by increasing the asset protection limit so seniors don't have to spend themselves to destitution before they can get help paying for their care, and by increasing the amount of spending money seniors in nursing homes have each month. * The President will deliver the Health Security Act of 1993 to Capitol Hill this week. To clarify, this is not the bill's introduction but is the delivery of the legislation to the Hill. The actual introduction of the bill will take place after the parliamentarians have determined areas of jurisdiction. * There will be supporting documents released along with the legislation including the President's Report to America on health care reform. Copies will be available from the Government Printing Office as well as through electronic distribution methods. We'll publish a full listing of outlets later this week.