[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 25, 1994 The President visited the Greenville Drug Store and a school in Norwich, Connecticut where he addressed a gathering of senior citizens to talk about the importance of adding prescription drug coverage to the Medicare program. The President also accepted the endorsements of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Association of Retail Druggists, which together represent virtually every pharmacy in the country. The President asked: "Are we going to fulfill the responsibili- ties of this generation to finally -- after 60 years of talking about it -- solve this problem? Are we going to continue to make excuses, walk away because everybody's got a different idea, or are we going to solve this problem? That is the great question facing the United States Congress and the American people." In other news, the Urban Institute, a non-profit policy research organization based in Washington, today released a report on the distributional effects of the President's plan. Among their findings: "While families in the bottom 20 percent of the income distri- bution would contribute a smaller share of their income for health, other families would contribute about the same as they do now." "Families in different income groups would receive approximately the same net health care benefits -- health care benefits re- ceived, less contributions-- under the Health Security Act as they do in the current system." "As a group, middle-income families would fare a little better under the Health Security Act because employer-group insurance and the tax benefits that go with it would be extended to all families." "..the plan would provide universal coverage without significant- ly increasing health care costs..." The Public Agenda Foundation released a study yesterday on public attitudes about health care reform. According to their study, titled "Second Opinions: Americans' Changing Views on Health Care Reform,": "the public has a strong commitment to the goal of universal healthcare coverage that does not diminish even when people learn more about the potential costs and sacrifices that may be required."