Clinton's catastrophic drug plan

President Clinton today sweetened his proposal for providing a prescription drug benefit to senior citizens by requesting in his new budget that Congress set aside funds to pay for "catastrophic" drug costs.

Clinton also reiterated his request that Congress enact the Medicare prescription drug benefit he proposed last year. When it is fully phased in, the plan would cap Medicare spending on drugs at $2,500 per year per beneficiary. The proposed budget would include a $35 billion reserve to pay for catastrophic costs. ...