By Larry Tate
February 3, 2003

Richmond (CA) Mayor and Committee Chair Irma Anderson, set the tone for the Children, Health and Human Services Committee meeting by reminding the group of the problems facing America's health care system, with many people uninsured and health care premiums drastically increasing for those who are insured. With states and cities under great financial pressure, speakers agreed that issues in all parts of the health care system affect issues in all other parts.

David Certner, Director of Federal Affairs for AARP, focused primarily on AARP's efforts in support of legislation providing a prescription drug benefit within Medicare, to be available to all older people and attractive to enough of them to create a viable risk pool. He noted that Americans over 65, the group that relies on prescription drugs the most, represent the least likely group to have drug coverage to help with the cost. He predicted that legislation would be passed, but noted that major issues still to be resolved include funding levels and the delivery system to be used.

Sara Traigle, Legislative Assistant on Health and Welfare for Senator John Breaux of Louisiana, discussed Senator Breaux's efforts to craft legislation for Medicare prescription drug benefits and the various compromises that are being worked on to achieve a final bill. She also discussed upcoming initiatives to cope with the West Nile virus, possibly $100 million in grants to states and localities for mosquito abatement programs. This might take the form of $100,000 one-time grants to localities along with grants to states for planning and coordination, though details remain to be worked out.

The session concluded with further discussion of the fiscal crunch at the state and local level. Certner noted that, even if legislation is passed this year, a Medicare prescription drug program wouldn't be fully operative for two years, and that efforts to preserve current health-care programs at the state and local levels are crucial.