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---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Fri, 24 Mar 2000 16:39:04 EST From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] As a result of the Administration's commitment to invest in biomedical research, including the Human Genome Project, we're now closer than even to finding cures and even preventions for devastating diseases like cancer, arthritis and Parkinson's. Many of these cures and preventions will be in the form of medicine. If we are to make this investment bear its full fruit, we must make sure that the people who suffer from these diseases have access to and coverage for the prescription drugs we are now working to develop. A Medicare prescription drug benefit is essential to enable people to take advantage of these life saving and life enhancing drugs, and providing this benefits may even allow us to save money on hospital and doctor care that could have been prevented with proper medication. In addition, Al Gore will work to ensure that patients have access to cutting edge treatments by passing legislation that assures Medicare patients can participate in clinical trials and requires all health plans to allow patients to participate in clinical trials. Many health plans also do not reimburse patients who participate in clinical trials that give them access to the most cutting edge treatments. This restriction prevents patients from taking advantage of the most promising advances and slows the pace of scientific research. Many scientists believe that higher participation in clinical trials could lead to faster development of new therapies-and for the patients themselves, access to these trials can mean the difference between life and death. We need to assure patients can access these top quality treatments. By taking these steps-by continuing to invest in biomedical research and the National Institutes of Health, removing barriers to research and improving and accelerating access to cutting edge treatments-we can build on the work that has been done over the past seven years to better treat and prevent the diseases that today threaten our lives and quality of life. Through our efforts together, we can make the suffering and fear diseases like Parkinson's, cancer, Alzheimer's and AIDS cause today a dark, but distant memory of the past.