Speech #1050065748

I would further urge the President. as well as Democratic party leaders. to disavow and distance themselves from candidates who resort to mediscare demagoguery in their future political campaigns. The American people deserve a responsible debate on this difficult subject. and the centrist coalition will be working to see that this happens. This bill does include a number of helpful changes for Medicare beneficiaries. lowincome children. and legal immigrants which I would like to briefly highlight. Medigap provisions included in this bill. which I was pleased to author earlier this year. will do for Medicare beneficiaries much of what the KassebaumKennedy health insurance bill did for working Americans: It vastly Improves portability and bans preexisting condition limitations for Medigap policy holders. This bill also improves access to emergency services for Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in managed care plans. which is derived from legislation Senator GRAHAM authored and I was glad to cosponsor earlier this year.