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CNN Live Sunday

Will AARP Endorse Near Medicare Bill?

Aired November 17, 2003 - 18:03   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: So what does this mean for seniors? Lisa Davis is director of communications for the AARP. Lisa, thank you very much for being with us today.
LISA DAVIS, DIR. COMMUNICATIONS AARP: Thank you, Carol.

LIN: You just heard Jonathan Karl's piece. Is AARP going to endorse this bill?

DAVIS: We actually think that there is some good movement and we're glad to see that the comparies (ph) are continuing to move together around keeping the promise of providing prescription drug coverage for millions and millions of needy seniors. AARP has not seen the details yet, and we look forward to doing that. We are glad that there's real movement around an issue that really affects so many people's lives.

LIN: Let's get to specifics. What is it that AARP sees in this bill that will be good for seniors?

DAVIS: The fact that millions of people will actually get relief for some of their prescription drug needs is a good step.

LIN: Does it bother you, though, that there's that middle ground that isn't covered, it's only people who have the least amount of prescription drug benefits or spending for those benefits or greater amounts over $3,000?

DAVIS: There are a lot of health issues that need to be addressed even after, and that is if a prescription drug bill is passed, and AARP is committed to continuing to work to bring down drug costs for seniors and their families, because this is an issue that goes broader. We like what we are beginning to see in the bill, but we have not seen full details. And know that there is going to continue to be work, but we're really hoping for bipartisan support for legislation that really will help seniors and their families and be enacted this year, which is a promise that Congress made to the American people.

LIN: But are you asking, is AARP asking for full coverage for prescription drugs, not just two different categories?

DAVIS: There needs to be a start. This establishes within Medicare a real benefit that could be meaningful and we want to continue to see some of the full details. Are there more things that could be done to help more people? Absolutely. And AARP is going to continue working with all parties in Congress to see how this bill could be continually crafted. And then once this legislation is passed if there's more that needs to be done, AARP is going to fight for that, too.

LIN: What about the provision that there might be a choice for providers. Do you think that will create competition and lower overall costs? Is that good for seniors?

DAVIS: What's good for seniors is anything that's going to bring down their cost while still maintaining a strong commitment to Medicare, which is what AARP wants to see. We'll have to look at the full details and evaluate how the various aspects of the bill are going to address different segments and at that point, we'll be able to be much more definitive and we hope that's soon.

LIN: So, Lisa, is there anything that you can be definitive on? It just sounds like we booked you too early to talk about this Medicare bill, but it seems there's a breakthrough on Capitol Hill. What specifically can you see that aarp sees in the bill that you definitely want to see make it to the president's desk?

DAVIS: We're extremely pleased about something that was mentioned in the top of this piece, which is the fact that there's movement and we are going to potentially, I guess, see prescription drug legislation that's going to meet the needs of millions of people, and that is something that is included in this bill as it's currently crafted.

LIN: You don't want to hold your breath is what I'm hearing, you want to see...

DAVIS: We want to see action. We don't want to hold breath.

LIN: You have been waiting a long time.

DAVIS: And bipartisan stand action.

Well, our members have been waiting a long time and so are their families.

LIN: You're way too young to worry about what's going to happen here but you do represent the AARP and I appreciate you being with us here today.

DAVIS: Thank you so much.

LIN: Lisa Davis.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 17, 2003 - 18:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: So what does this mean for seniors? Lisa Davis is director of communications for the AARP. Lisa, thank you very much for being with us today.
LISA DAVIS, DIR. COMMUNICATIONS AARP: Thank you, Carol.

LIN: You just heard Jonathan Karl's piece. Is AARP going to endorse this bill?

DAVIS: We actually think that there is some good movement and we're glad to see that the comparies (ph) are continuing to move together around keeping the promise of providing prescription drug coverage for millions and millions of needy seniors. AARP has not seen the details yet, and we look forward to doing that. We are glad that there's real movement around an issue that really affects so many people's lives.

LIN: Let's get to specifics. What is it that AARP sees in this bill that will be good for seniors?

DAVIS: The fact that millions of people will actually get relief for some of their prescription drug needs is a good step.

LIN: Does it bother you, though, that there's that middle ground that isn't covered, it's only people who have the least amount of prescription drug benefits or spending for those benefits or greater amounts over $3,000?

DAVIS: There are a lot of health issues that need to be addressed even after, and that is if a prescription drug bill is passed, and AARP is committed to continuing to work to bring down drug costs for seniors and their families, because this is an issue that goes broader. We like what we are beginning to see in the bill, but we have not seen full details. And know that there is going to continue to be work, but we're really hoping for bipartisan support for legislation that really will help seniors and their families and be enacted this year, which is a promise that Congress made to the American people.

LIN: But are you asking, is AARP asking for full coverage for prescription drugs, not just two different categories?

DAVIS: There needs to be a start. This establishes within Medicare a real benefit that could be meaningful and we want to continue to see some of the full details. Are there more things that could be done to help more people? Absolutely. And AARP is going to continue working with all parties in Congress to see how this bill could be continually crafted. And then once this legislation is passed if there's more that needs to be done, AARP is going to fight for that, too.

LIN: What about the provision that there might be a choice for providers. Do you think that will create competition and lower overall costs? Is that good for seniors?

DAVIS: What's good for seniors is anything that's going to bring down their cost while still maintaining a strong commitment to Medicare, which is what AARP wants to see. We'll have to look at the full details and evaluate how the various aspects of the bill are going to address different segments and at that point, we'll be able to be much more definitive and we hope that's soon.

LIN: So, Lisa, is there anything that you can be definitive on? It just sounds like we booked you too early to talk about this Medicare bill, but it seems there's a breakthrough on Capitol Hill. What specifically can you see that aarp sees in the bill that you definitely want to see make it to the president's desk?

DAVIS: We're extremely pleased about something that was mentioned in the top of this piece, which is the fact that there's movement and we are going to potentially, I guess, see prescription drug legislation that's going to meet the needs of millions of people, and that is something that is included in this bill as it's currently crafted.

LIN: You don't want to hold your breath is what I'm hearing, you want to see...

DAVIS: We want to see action. We don't want to hold breath.

LIN: You have been waiting a long time.

DAVIS: And bipartisan stand action.

Well, our members have been waiting a long time and so are their families.

LIN: You're way too young to worry about what's going to happen here but you do represent the AARP and I appreciate you being with us here today.

DAVIS: Thank you so much.

LIN: Lisa Davis.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com