AARP Thanks Congress for Keeping Medicare Fair, Overriding White House Veto

Bipartisan Bill Improves Low-Income Help and Boosts Quality through National
E-Prescribing, Helps Ensure Access to Doctors

AUSTIN, Texas, July 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SUMMARY: Today the U.S.
House of Representatives and Senate voted overwhelmingly to override a White
House veto and pass important Medicare legislation. The Medicare Improvements
for Patients and Providers Act will improve Medicare's low-income programs,
boost health care quality with a system of national e-prescribing, and help
ensure the access of patients to their doctors. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030514/AARPLOGO )

VOTED YES TO PASS VOTED NO
MEDICARE BILL ON MEDICARE BILL

Hutchison, Kay Bailey
Cornyn, John
Barton, Joe
Brady, Kevin
Burgess, Michael C.
Carter, John R.
Conaway, K. Michael
Cuellar, Henry
Culbertson, John
Doggett, Lloyd
Edwards, Chet
Gohmert, Louie
Gonzalez, Charles A.
Granger, Kay
Green, Al
Green, Gene
Hall, Ralph
Hensarling, Jeb
Hinojosa, Ruben
Jackson Lee, Sheila
Johnson, Eddie Bernice
Johnson, Sam
Lampson, Nick
Marchant, Kenny
McCall, Michael
Neugebauer, Kenny
Ortiz, Solomon
Paul, Ron
Poe, Ted
Reyes, Silvestre
Rodriguez, Ciro D.
Sessions, Pete
Smith, Lamar
Thornberry, William M. "Mac"

*Did not vote
** How a legislator votes on issues is only one factor in evaluating his
or her legislative performance, which should also include such things as
constituency services and committee work.
"Today's vote is a victory for the 44 million Americans who depend on
Medicare, and we applaud Senators Hutchison and Cornyn, as well as
Representatives Burgess, Cuellar, Culbertson, Doggett, Edwards, Gohmert,
Gonzalez, Granger, Al Green, Gene Green, Hall, Hinojosa, Jackson Lee, Eddie
Bernice Johnson, Lampson, McCaul, Ortiz, Poe, Reyes, Rodriguez, Sessions,
Smith, and Thornberry for their continued support," said Bob Jackson, state
director for AARP Texas. "This bipartisan legislation will help more Americans
afford their health care bills while bringing doctors offices and pharmacies
into the 21st century with e-prescribing."
Jackson added: "We are disappointed that Representatives Barton, Kevin
Brady, Carter, Conaway, Hensarling, Sam Johnson, Marchant, Neugebauer and Paul
voted against this important legislation. This bill would begin to bring down
health care costs for millions of Americans, while reducing dangerous drug
interactions with electronic prescriptions."
AARP has been advocating for several months to ensure that lawmakers keep
Medicare fair for the people who depend on it when Congress addresses
physician payment cuts. AARP has also been advocating for this bill's
improvements to Medicare, particularly the low-income programs and electronic
prescribing.
Since launching the "Keep Medicare Fair" initiative in April, AARP's
grassroots volunteers and activists have sent more than 1.2 million messages
to Congress and the White House. As part of this effort, an AARP survey
released May 19 found that of adults 50-plus, 81 percent oppose additional
increases to Medicare premiums and 66 percent are less likely to vote for a
Member of Congress who supports those increases.
AARP notified the 110th Congress that it was tracking roll call votes on
key legislation important to its 39 million members and reporting the outcomes
of these votes back to its members.
"We believe people make the right choices when they understand the issues
and positions taken by their elected officials. AARP intends to ensure that
its members get that information," Jackson concluded.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people
50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and
affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates
for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or
candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+
Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 33 million
readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 million members
and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication
dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website,
AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security,
protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from
thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
SOURCE AARP Texas

Rosie Barrera, +1-713-515-4162, rbarrera@aarp.org, or Amanda Fredriksen,
afredriksen@aarp.org, both for AARP Texas