By Lisa Seachrist

Washington Editor

WASHINGTON - Late in the congressional session, Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) introduced legislation that would result in a sweeping reform of the Medicare system.

Like many Medicare proposals introduced during the first session of the 106th Congress, the Breaux-Frist proposal includes for the first time a prescription drug benefit for the nation's seniors. However, the proposal goes far beyond other bills offering prescription drug benefits to seniors.

"The program that the seniors now benefit from is not nearly as good as it should be, nor nearly as good as it can be," Breaux said when he introduced the legislation Nov. 9. Breaux chaired the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare, which failed to endorse recommendations last March.

"Medicare today is noted more for what it does not cover than for what it actually covers," he said. "The second reason we have introduced it is because, as bad as the program is, it is going broke. By the year 2020, one-half of all the revenues to fund the Medicare program are going to have to come out of general revenues."

The senators named their bill the Medicare Preservation and Improvement Act of 1999. The legislation would establish a competitive premium system for Medicare insurance based on the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan. Under this plan, Medicare beneficiaries would have a choice of insurance plans and the offerings of those plans would be overseen by the Medicare Board.

All of the plans would have to offer a high benefits option that would include a prescription drug benefits plan. In addition, the Health Care Finance Administration will administer a Medicare Plan. The bill also offers premium supports to low-income seniors in order to ensure they have access to prescription drug benefits.

"We've always thought a premium support was the right direction," said Jackie Cottrell, spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. "We believe this issue will be front and center next year. This bipartisan bill is a positive step for keeping this debate at a policy level."

With a presidential election year coming, it remains to be seen whether or not the debate remains a bipartisan effort to reform Medicare. Breaux urged his fellow congressmen to keep the debate focused on improving Medicare. "I hope this legislative effort becomes the marker for future discussions and debate on the question of what we do with Medicare," Breaux said. "We introduced the bill today because we think it is absolutely essential that the Congress in this session takes up the question of how to reform the Medicare program that is currently serving 40 million Americans."

Senate Declares January Biotech Month

The Senate has adopted a resolution declaring January 2000 National Biotechnology Month. Sen. Rod Grams (R-Minn.) introduced the measure. The Senate needed no convincing as the measure passed by unanimous consent on Nov. 19, the last day of the session.

In a statement, Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President Carl Feldbaum said, "This is a fitting tribute to the dedicated scientists and business professionals in our industry who are at the center of an unprecedented effort to improve health care, our food and our environment."

In an atmosphere in which agricultural biotechnology is being seen as an increasingly suspicious undertaking, the Senate resolution noted the benefits of agbiotech, which has boosted crop yields, offered additional tools for controlling pests and encouraged environmentally friendly farming techniques.

Patent Office Gets Permanent Director

Acting Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) Commissioner Todd Dickinson was sworn in as PTO commissioner Tuesday by Commerce Secretary William Daley. Dickinson has been serving as acting PTO director since former commissioner Bruce Lehman stepped down at the end of last year.

"Todd was very effective in bringing together the factions interested in the patent reform bill, which was enacted Nov. 19," Chuck Ludlam, BIO's vice president for government relations, said in a statement. "Todd has taken the lead at the PTO in listening to stakeholders."