Thompson Defends Bush Medicare Plan

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson told lawmakers that a Bush administration proposal to grant prescription drug benefits to some elderly and disabled Medicare recipients would not jeopardize the program’s future.

Bush and Congress agree that drug benefits should be added to the federal health insurance program. At issue is how many participants would be covered immediately--and whether any new benefits would threaten Medicare’s financial future.

Thompson told the House Budget Committee that Bush’s budget would keep Medicare in good financial health. Extra money generated by the program, he said, would be used to make it more efficient.