**MEDIA ADVISORY**

Wanted: Real Medicare Reform

American Conservative Union (ACU), two dozen conservative groups form coalition, call on House-Senate Medicare Conference to scrap current bills and start over.

Thursday August 21, 2003

ALEXANDRIA, VA - - Earlier today, American Conservative Union (ACU) Vice Chairman Donald Devine announced that two dozen conservative organizations have formed a Coalition Against Higher Medicare Drug Costs. The coalition includes the Heritage Foundation, National Taxpayers Union, Family Research Council, Eagle Forum, the Cato Institute, Citizens Against Government Waste, Citizens for a Sound Economy, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, and Club for Growth.

"The Medicare prescription drug benefit bills that have passed the House and Senate would drive up costs for millions of senior citizens," Devine said. "Millions more would lose their current coverage under private Medigap insurance and employer-provided plans. The House-Senate Conference Committee should reject the current bills and start over with a bill that includes real Medicare reform."

Who: Speakers (partial list):
Donald Devine, ACU Vice Chairman
Dan Mitchell, Ph.D., Heritage Foundation
Robert Moffit, Ph.D., Heritage Foundation
John Berthoud Ph.D., President, NTU

What: Press Conference

When: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. EDT

Where: The National Press Club
West Room
529 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20045

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