[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. -- Steve Freedkin , LIST.HEALTHPLAN Administrator] The White House Health Care Reform Today February 24, 1994 * The President will travel today to the Greenville Drug Store, a local pharmacy in Norwich Connecticut, to talk about the importance of adding prescription drug coverage to the Medicare program. * ? The President will also accept the endorsements of the country's two leading pharmacist groups, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Association of Retail Druggists. These groups represent virtually all pharmacies in the United States. * What follows is a summary of the prescription drug benefit, and its importance to older Americans. * "Any doctor who deals with the elderly will tell you that there are many elderly people who don't get medicine, who get sicker and sicker and eventually go to the doctor and wind up spending more money and draining more money from the health care system than they would if they had regular treatment in the way that only adequate medicine can provide." -- President Clinton, speech to a Joint Session of Congress, September 22, 1993 * Between 1980 and 1992, while the general inflation rate increased by 22 percent, drug prices increased 128 percent. For 3 out of 4 older Americans, prescription drugs are the highest out of pocket health care cost. Nearly two thirds of Americans over the age of 65 have no prescription drug coverage, and over eight million older Americans are forced to choose between buying food and medicine. * Many older Americans and others are hospitalized today because their lack of prescription drug coverage means that they can't afford to get the medication they need. In fact, one study says that problems related to medication lie at the root of 25 percent of all hospitalizations of older patients -- and costs more than $21 billion a year. * Medicare beneficiaries will have 80 percent coverage for their medictions after they reach a $250 deductible. A $1,000 annual cap will be placed on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, with costs above this amount fully covered. Patients will receive counseling from their pharmacist on what medications are most appropriate.