124 STAT. 4669 PROCLAMATION 8544—JULY 30, 2010 Proclamation 8544 of July 30, 2010 45th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law on July 30, 1965, millions of Americans and about half our Nation’s seniors lacked health care coverage, unable to afford basic health care services or weather a medical emergency. The signing of Medicare forged a promise with older Americans—that those who have contributed a lifetime to our national life and economy can enjoy their golden years with peace of mind and the security of reliable medical insurance. Medicaid created an essential partnership between the Fed- eral Government and the States to provide a basic health care safety net for some of the most vulnerable Americans: low-income children, parents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Forty-five years later, we must ensure this inviolable trust between America and its citizens re- mains stronger than ever. Medicare and Medicaid support longer, healthier lives and economic security for some of the neediest among us. Since their expansion in 1972, Medicare and Medicaid have covered millions of people with disabilities, protecting individuals who otherwise might not have ac- cess to affordable health coverage. Today, Medicare provides over 47 million Americans with dependable medical insurance, and is the larg- est health care provider in our Nation. State Medicaid programs pro- vide health and long-term care coverage to more than 56 million low- income Americans. With too many communities stricken by the eco- nomic crisis, Medicaid provides a critical support for those struggling to raise healthy families or cope with illness or injury. No American should be one illness away from financial ruin, and we must continue to keep Medicare and Medicaid strong for the millions of beneficiaries who rely on these vital safety nets. Medicare is not simply an entitlement program that starts at age 65— it is earned over a lifetime. The health care reforms in the landmark Affordable Care Act (ACA) renew and strengthen our pledge to Amer- ica’s seniors and families, ensuring Medicare and Medicaid will be there when they need it. Guaranteed Medicare benefits will not change, and participants will see greater savings, improved quality, and in- creased accountability in their health care coverage. My Administration is taking steps to extend the life of the Medicare trust fund and to slow the growth of Medicare costs. The ACA helps accomplish this by addressing overpayments to insurance companies that operate Medicare Advantage plans; aggressively fighting waste, fraud, and abuse; and better coordinating the care of individuals with chronic conditions. The ACA also helps seniors and people with dis- abilities in Medicare who fall in the Part D coverage gap for prescrip- tion drug costs, or the ‘‘donut hole,’’ and Medicare beneficiaries who reach the donut hole this year are receiving a $250 rebate. Addition- ally, beneficiaries will see 50 percent discounts on brand name drugs in the coverage gap starting next year, and an end of the coverage gap altogether by 2020. To encourage health maintenance, the ACA enables Medicare to provide a free annual physical examination and other ef-
