Prescription Drug Coverage for Medicare Beneficiaries: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Selected Proposals
Updated, July 31, 2002
This document, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., provides a side-by-side comparison of five major federal proposals to provide outpatient prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, introduced as of July 31, 2002: H.R. 4954, The Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002 (passed by the House of Representatives on June 28, 2002); H.R. 5019, The Medicare Rx Drug Benefit and Discount Act of 2002 (Rep. Rangel/House Democratic proposal); S. 2625, The Medicare Outpatient Prescription Drug Act of 2002 (Sen. Graham/Senate Democratic Proposal, including modifications in the Graham Amendment to S.812);S. 2729, The 21st Century Medicare Act (known as the Tripartisan Proposal); andS. 2736, The Medicare Rx Drug Discount and Security Act of 2002 (Sen. Hagel). Modeled on earlier side-by-side comparisons prepared for The Kaiser Family Foundation, this document summarizes the key provisions of leading proposals as part of the Foundation's continuing effort to track the Medicare prescription drug debate. This side-by-side may be updated to include additional proposals.