presidential speeches and addresses on medicare, 1964-1999

395 Pages·2008·1.29 MB·English

by  Brian L. Howard

CMS History Project President's Speeches
Table of Contents

PRESIDENT DATE SUBJECT
Lyndon B.

Johnson
Medical Aid under May 9, 1964 Remarks before the 50th
Social Security Page 6 Anniversary Convention of the
Amalgamated Clothing
Workers in New York City
Medical care March 26, 1965 Remarks to the press
legislation Pages 8–12 following a meeting with
Congressional leaders
Social Security April 8, 1965 Statement by the President
Amendments of Page 13 following House approval of
1965 the Medicare Bill
Social Security July 9, 1965 Statement by the President
Amendments of Page 14 following passage of the
1965 Medicare Bill by the Senate
Social Security July 30, 1965 Remarks at the signing of the
Amendments of Pages 16–21 Medicare Bill with President
1965 Truman in Independence
The Medicare April 8, 1966 Remarks at signing of the
Extension Bill Pages 22–27 Medicare Extension Bill in San
Antonio
Launching Medicare April 8, 1966 Letter to Secretary Gardner
Pages 28–29 requesting a progress report
on preparations for launching
Medicare
Launching Medicare June 15, 1966 Remarks at a meeting with
Pages 30–39 medical and hospital leaders
The inauguration of June 30, 1966 Statement by the President
the Medicare Page 40
program
Racial August 19, 1966 Remarks at the dedication of
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discrimination in Pages 41–43 the Ellenville Community
health care Hospital, Ellenville, New York
The first July 1, 1967 Statement by the President
anniversary of the Pages 44–46
Medicare program
The second June 29, 1968 Statement by the President
anniversary of the Pages 47–48
Medicare program
Medicare August 14, 1968 Remarks before the annual
Pages 49–51 convention of the National
Medical Association, in
Houston, Texas
Richard M. Nixon
The President’s March 2, 1972 Special message to the
National Health Pages 52–69 Congress outlining: a National
Strategy Health Insurance Partnership
Act; a National Health
Insurance Standards Act;
Family Health Insurance Plan;
and Health Maintenance
Organization Assistance Act
The President’s March 23, 1972 Special message to the
National Health Pages 70–71 Congress on older Americans
Strategy and the burden of health
costs; supporting HR 1
Medicare October 30, 1972 Radio address on older
Page 72 Americans
Comprehensive February 6, 1974 Special message to the
Health Insurance Page 73 Congress proposing a
Plan comprehensive health
insurance plan, improving
Medicare
Gerald Ford
Catastrophic Health January 19, 1976 Address before a joint session
Insurance Page 74 of the Congress reporting on
the State of the Union
Catastrophic Health January 21, 1976 Remarks at a news briefing on
Insurance Page 75–77 the fiscal year 1977 budget
Catastrophic Health January 21, 1976 Remarks on greeting
Insurance Page 78 members of the Legislative
Council of the National Retired
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Teachers Association and the
American Association of
Retired Persons
Catastrophic Health February 9, 1976 Special message to the
Insurance Pages 79–80 Congress on older Americans
Medicare July 22, 1976 Special message to the
Improvements of Page 81 Congress urging action on
1976 pending legislation for
catastrophic health protection
Jimmy Carter
“Ask President March 5, 1977 Remarks during a telephone
Carter” Page 82–83 call–in program on the CBS
radio network about Medicare
and health care costs
Medicare–Medicaid October 25, 1977 Statement on signing HR 3
Anti–Fraud and Pages 84–85 into law
Abuse Amendments
Rural Health Clinic December 13, Statement on signing HR
Services Bill 1977 8422 into law
Page 86
Amendments to the June 13, 1978 Statement on signing HR.
Medicare Renal Page 87 8423 into law
Disease
National Health Plan June 12, 1979 Remarks announcing
Pages 88–94 proposed legislation for a
national health security
system.
National Health Plan June 12, 1979 Message to Congress on
Pages 95–100 proposed legislation:
protection from catastrophic
expenses, expanded benefits
for the elderly, improved
program for the poor, health
services for mothers and
infants, extended insurance
coverage, cost containment,
increased competition, and a
framework for a
comprehensive plan
National Retired September 12, Remarks and a question–and–
Teachers 1979 answer session at the National
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Association and the Page 101 Issue Forum in Hartford,
American Connecticut
Association of
Retired People
Hospital Cost November 13, Letter to the Members of the
Containment 1979 House of Representatives on
Legislation Pages 102–103 Hospital Cost Containment
legislation
Social Security June 9, 1980 Statement on signing H.R.
Disability Pages 104–105 3236 into law
Amendments of
1980
Medical Costs And October 10, 1980 Remarks and a question–and–
National Health Page 106–107 answer session at a town
Insurance meeting with senior citizens in
St. Petersburg, Florida
1980 Presidential October 28, 1980 Cleveland, Ohio
Campaign Debate Page 108
Medicare and Social October 31, 1980 Statement by the President
Security Pages 109–112
Ronald Reagan
Medicare May 24, 1982 Remarks and a question–and–
Pages 113–114 answer session with reporters
on domestic and foreign policy
issues
Health Incentives February 28, 1983 Message to the Congress
Reform Pages 115–124 transmitting proposed health
care incentives reform
legislation
Medicare and June 23, 1983 Remarks at the annual
Medicaid Pages 125–126 meeting of the American
Medical Association House of
Delegates, Chicago, Illinois—
(includes discussion about a
prospective payment system)
Social Security February 1, 1984 Message to the Congress
Amendments of Page 127 transmitting the fiscal year
1983 1985 budget
Medicare August 31, 1984 Remarks to chapter
Page 128 presidents of the Catholic
Golden Age Association
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Medicare November 7, 1984 Question–and–answer session
Page 129 with reporters on foreign and
domestic issues
George H.W. Bush
Health care reform May 13, 1992 Remarks to the health care
Pages 130–133 and business community in
Baltimore, Maryland
Health care reform June 2, 1992 Remarks at the Health Care
Pages 134–136 Equity Action League briefing
Health care reform July 3, 1992 Radio address to the nation
Pages 137–138
The Revenue Act of November 4, 1992 Memorandum of Disapproval
1992 Pages 139 for HR 11
Bill Clinton
Health care reform September 22, Address to a joint session of
1993 the Congress
Pages 140–156
The Health Security October 27, 1993 Remarks on presenting
Act Pages 157–161 proposed health care reform
legislation to the Congress
The Health Security October 27, 1993 Letter to Congressional
Act Pages 162–168 leaders on proposed health
care reform legislation
Medicare and May 3, 1995 Remarks to the White House
Medicaid Pages 169–172 Conference on Aging
The 30th July 25, 1995 Remarks
anniversary of the Pages 173–179
passage of Medicare
and Medicaid
Medicare and January 23, 1996 Address before the joint
Medicaid Page 180 session of Congress on the
State of the Union
Medicare January 6, 1998 Remarks announcing
Pages 181–183 proposed legislation
Medicare March 17, 1998 Remarks on proposed
Pages 184–187 legislation to expand Medicare
Medicare and the June 23, 1998 Statement
Patients’ Bill of Page 188
Rights
HMO’s and Medicare October 8, 1998 Remarks on the decision of
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Pages 189–191 certain health maintenance
organizations to opt out of
some Medicare markets
Medicare Fraud December 7, 1998 Remarks on efforts to combat
Pages 192–194 Medicare fraud
Social Security and March 30, 1999 Remarks on receiving the
Medicare Trustees Pages 195–198 report of the social security
Report and Medicare trustees and an
exchange with reporters
Medicare June 29, 1999 Remarks
Modernization Plan Pages 199–205
Medicare reform October 19, 1999 Letter to Congressional
Pages 206–208 leaders
George W. Bush
Medicare Initiative July 12, 2001 Press briefing

Medicare July 13, 2001 Address at Johns Hopkins

Modernization Hospital

Medicare Legislation August 3, 2001 General announcement

Medicare January 28, 2002 Remarks to Congress

Modernization
Medicare May 17, 2002 Remarks to Coalition for

Prescription Drug Medicare Choices
Coverage
Medicare May 18, 2002 Radio address

Prescription Drug
Coverage
Medicare July 11, 2002 Speech in Minnesota

Prescription Drug
Coverage
Medicare Reform January 28, 2003 State of the Union

Medicare March 4, 2003 Addressing group of

Modernization physicians
Medicare Reform June 6, 2003 Press release

Medicare Drug June 7, 2003 Radio address

Coverage
Medicare Reform June 11, 2003 Speech to Illinois State

Medical Society
Medicare June 27, 2003 Praises Congress for Medicare

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Modernization Act legislation passage
Medicare June 28, 2003 Radio address

Modernization Act
Conferencing of July 30, 2003 Statement on 38th anniversary

Medicare of Medicare
Modernization Act
Medicare October 29, 2003 Statement Urging Completion

Modernization Act of Medicare Bill
Medicare Reform November 13, Speech to senior citizens in
2003 Florida

Passage of Medicare November 25, Speech in Nevada
Modernization Act 2003

Signing of Medicare December 8, 2003 Speech to audience at DAR

Modernization Act Constitution Hall
Quality Healthcare January 28, 2004 Speech on consumer-driven

healthcare system
Medicare Discount June 14, 2004 Speech in Liberty, Missouri

Drug Card
New Medicare Drug June 16, 2005 Speech to Department of

Benefit Health and Human Services
about rollout of Part D
Part D Begins November 12, Radio address on Part D
2005 beginning on January 1st.

Promote Part D February 11, 2006 Radio address on Part D.

Affordable February 16, 2006 Roundtable at Department of

Healthcare Health and Human Services
Medicare April 12, 2006 Conversation in Virginia

Prescription Drugs
Medicare May 6, 2006 Radio Address

Prescription Drugs
Medicare May 10, 2006 Conversation with Asociación

Prescription Drugs Borinqueña de Florida Central,
Inc.
Medicare Part D April 23, 2007 Meeting in the Roosevelt

Room
Reauthorization of September 21, Comments on support for
SCHIP 2007 SCHIP

Reauthorization of September 28, Radio address excerpt on
SCHIP 2007 SCHIP

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Discussion on October 3, 2007 Visit with the Lancaster

SCHIP Chamber of Commerce
Comments on October 6, 2007 Radio address

SCHIP

REMARKS IN NEW YORK CITY BEFORE THE 50TH
ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION OF THE AMALGAMATED
CLOTHING WORKERS—MAY 9, 1964

There is a third program where you and I must stand together today.
We must unite in passing a bill in Congress to help our older citizens
secure decent medical aid under social security. Inadequate hospital
care is an indecent penalty to place on old age.

In the hills of eastern Kentucky, one of the 13 States that I visited in a
program to meet the people and to know the country and to do
something about the problems—in that program I sat next to a father
that had 11 children, that had worked 4 days last month, that had
made $4 a day and had had to feed those little hungry mouths largely
from surplus commodities. And he told me because he believed in the
admonition of “Love thy neighbor as thyself,” that he had been over
and sat up with an 85–year–old man until 4 o’clock the night before
the President visited him. Why? Because there was no hospital for him
to go to and there were no resources to pay the hospital bill.

Situations like that must end in America.

All we are asking for is a program under social security, which will let
the worker put in about $1 a month from his average lifetime
earnings. The average manufacturing earnings in this country are now
$100 a week. We ask $1 per month when he enters the labor market
from the employee and $1 per month from his employer and the
Government does not put in a single cent. But under this plan all
Americans, not just the rich and affluent Americans, all Americans can
face the autumn of life with dignity and security. Twenty-four dollars a
year, if you enter the labor market at 20 and stay until you are 65–45
years at $24 makes a little over $1,100, multiplied by the formula 3.75
and you have almost $4,000 when you are 65 in your account to take
care of your hospital needs.

What little you may have saved during that time can go to pay the
doctor of your choice. He is not interfered with in any way. He is really
served by having a fund to pay your hospital bill because, as it is now,
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he has to wait until the hospital is paid for and the nurse is paid for
and the medicine is paid for. If there is anything else, he gets it, so
why in the name of goodness are they fighting this bill, I don’t know.

But remember, the same ghostwriter that wrote the phrase about
Roosevelt’s social security bill in 1936 and called it a “cruel hoax,” for
Alf Landon, is now writing a phrase about my poverty bill and calling it
a “cruel hoax.” The same old words—written, I think, by the same old
man, for the same old purpose, to try to preserve the status quo. Well,
who doesn’t want better than the status quo?

These older citizens deserve a more decent chance to stay well or to
get well, and this administration, with your support, intends to see
that they get that chance.

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REMARKS TO THE PRESS FOLLOWING A MEETING
WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO DISCUSS
MEDICAL CARE LEGISLATION—MARCH 26, 1965
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I have been meeting with the leaders of the House and Senate to
discuss legislation, which the Ways and Means Committee of the
House has recommended for comprehensive medical care for
America’s senior citizens.
Under this plan that the committee is recommending, every American
over 65 years of age will guarantee himself comprehensive hospital
and medical protection for the rest of his life.
Now, here is how the plan will work. During his working years, the
worker pays about $2.50 a month. This, plus a similar amount from
his employer, will provide the funds to pay up to 60 days
hospitalization for each illness. It also provides adequate nursing home
care.
For $3 per month after he is 65, he also receives full coverage of
medical, surgical, and other fees whether he is in or out of the
hospital.
Those needy citizens of all ages who are unable to make these
payments will be provided the same hospital and medical coverage by
meeting a liberal means test.
I am very proud of the work done by the Ways and Means Committee
under the leadership of Chairman Wilbur Mills of Arkansas, who is here
this morning. This committee has recommended a program that will
help all of our people face the future with hope and with courage, and
they have done so with a program that respects the basic traditional
relationship between a doctor and his patients. And I am so hopeful
that we will finally be successful in this Congress in providing
comprehensive hospital and medical insurance for our senior citizens.
I want to ask Chairman Mills now to make a brief statement
concerning this program that his committee has worked out.
MR MILLS: Mr. President, I think the Ways and Means Committee has,
after several years of study, brought forth a bill that will resolve the
problems of those people who are over 65 years of age and in bad
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