The Nation : Some Catastrophic Care Coverage Urged

The Bush Administration made a half-hearted effort to salvage some provisions of Medicare’s catastrophic care program as the Senate prepared for an expected vote today on a repeal of the controversial legislation. Health and Human Services Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, criticizing the House for its lopsided vote Wednesday to repeal the program, urged that the limits on personal spending for hospital and doctor bills be preserved. Although Sullivan expressed his support for a plan by Sen. Dave Durenberger (R-Minn.) to retain a limited version of catastrophic care, White House Budget Director Richard G. Darman said that the Administration had no preference among the several courses the Senate will consider, including one to kill the program.