Bush presents prescription drug plan

President George W. Bush on Monday presented Congress with an outline of a plan to provide states grants to subsidize prescription drug purchases. The plan would allow states to use federal money to assist low income senior citizens -- individuals with annual incomes of up to $15,000 and couples making $20,000 or less--who do not have prescription drug coverage. The plan also includes a "stop-loss" provision under which states would pay all prescription drug expenses exceeding $6,000 a year. The Immediate Helping Hand plan is intended as an interim step that would last until Congress enacts comprehensive Medicare reforms that include prescription drug coverage for all senior citizens. Bush told reporters today that he intends to push hard for enactment of the plan. "It's very important for us to have the Immediate Helping Hand. There are a lot of seniors who need help when it comes to prescription drugs," Bush said. ...