European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 24, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday july 24, 1987 the stars and stripes Pago 5 expansion of medicare program wins overwhelming House approval Washington a the House overwhelmingly passed a Bill wednesday thai represents he most sweeping expansion of medicare since he health insurance program for the elderly was established in 1965, there were differences Between democrats and re publicans Over scope and detail but Broad agreement hat medicare s Basic coverage of Hospital and physicians fees should be reshaped to shield the nation s elderly against the threat of financial ruin resulting from serious illness. That fundamental change was proposed by presi Dent Reagan in february and was embellished by con Gressional democrats. The final Vole sending he House Bill to the Senate was 302-127, More than the two thirds majority that would be needed to override a presidential veto if Reagan attempts o Block the measure it came shortly after a party line 241-190 Vole rejecting a Republican substitute Bill that closely Fol Lowed the Reagan plan and a 244-187 Vole rejecting a Republican fall Back motion to recommit the demo cratic measure to a House panel for further study. While similar in Structure the democratic Bill costs twice Ai much and helps twice As Many people As he president proposal said rep. Dan Rostenkowski d-ii1., in opening debate on the measure the tax writing ways and Means committee headed by Rostenkowski played a major role in Craft ing the democratic version and the chairman pointed out that it Calls for a new progressive financing mechanism paid through the income lax  thai mechanism which proponents insist is a supplemental Premium rather than a tax would result in about 40 percent of the elderly bearing a major share of the costs for All of the is million medicare beneficiaries. The 60 percent of the elderly who do not have enough income to subject them to income axes under current Law would pay Only a relatively Small increase j2.10 in the first year in the Flat monthly Premium already assessed through a deduction in social Security checks. As originally proposed by Reagan inc coverage for catastrophic illnesses would be financed solely by a Premium increase imposed equally on All beneficiaries regardless of i n Ancial status. It was thai difference in financing mechanism and More particularly the expanded benefits in the demo cratic plan such As coverage for prescription drugs that Drew opposition from the administration and prompted House republicans to offer a substitute ver Sion patterned closely after the Reagan proposal. White House spokesman Marlin filzmaier said tuesday that Reagan would veto the Bill if it reached him in the exact form of the House measure. However Fitzwalter suggested there is room for Compromise Given existing differences Between the House Bill and a Senate finance committee version that docs not contain a prescription drug Benefit in seems unlikely that final legislation will reach the White House in exactly the form passed by the House. Rostenkowski who is expected to play a key role in the House Senate conference committee that will be called on to resolve differences said frankly. I am concerned about the potential Cost of the new prescription drug  the original ways and Means Bill did not contain a medication Benefit. That provision was added in a Compromise with the House Energy and Commerce committee which shares jurisdiction Over parts of the medicare program. The provision Calls for medicare to pay 80 percent of prescription drug costs after a 1500 annual deductible is met. Medicare now pays nothing for pics Crillion drugs used at Home except in rare cases such As anti rejection medication required by transplant recipients. Aside from controversy Over the drug Benefit wide bipartisan support for the expanded coverage of Hospi Tal and doctors fees suggested accommodation a Alicr than confrontation As the most Likely scenario As the measure winds its Way to the White House. One major Benefit of the House measure would pay All Hospital costs for 365 Days a year after a one time deductible pegged to medical inflation ss80 in 1989, for example. The other fundamental Benefit would pay All doctors Bills up to the charges allowable by medicare after a $ 1,043 deductible. At present medi care pays Only 39 Days of full hospitalization a year that after the patient pays the first Day deductible which is s520 in 1987, it pays Only 80 percent of allowable doctors Bills no Mailer How High they mount. On he Cost Side the Only additional charge for the additional coverage to an individual medicare Benefi Ciary with income of less than 16,000 would be the 12.10 increase in the monthly Premium. Those with higher incomes would pay proportionately More. An individual Wilh a si0,000 income for example would pay an additional $280 a year on top of the $2.10 monthly increase. One with a $15,000 income would pay a $580 supplemental Premium. Hohn s Story of tryst with Bakker will appear in Playboy this fall Carle place . Up Jessica Hahn has sold her Story to Playboy Magazine and the upcoming revelations about her tryst with to evangelist Jim Bakker will stun the country but Here will be no nude pictures her attorney said wednesday. The 27-year-old woman from the nearby Long is land Community of West Babylon was not present at the news conference called by her attorney Dominic Barbara who said Hahn s whereabouts will be Kepi secret until he november Issue of the Magazine Hils Shenew Landson sept. 28, Barbara also said Hahn plans to sue Bakker and his wife. Tammy Faye and the pal for damages. Whatever one thinks of Jessica Hahn through past and present press reports inc person and Story that will emerge Are going to stun the country the attorney said of the Playboy article. Hahn s sexual encounter with Bakker in Florida led to his resignation As head of the financially troubled pal ministries in March. In addition to Hahn s relationship with Bakker bar Bara said the Story in the men s Magazine is expected to reveal her knowledge of payoffs financial dealings Sands of time in the stars and stripes 40 years ago today july 24, 1947 the state department announced that Poland s share of the j350 million american foreign Relief program was cancelled because of the improved food situation there. 30 years ago today july 24,1957 two Cleveland officials said Donald j. Wedler s confession had nothing to do Wilh the murder of Marilyn Sheppard. They said Wedler had a general knowledge of the crime but no specific knowledge 20 years ago today. July 24, 1967 Gen. William Westmoreland said on his mum to Vietnam Hal american troop there were being used efficiently. Earlier defense Secretary Robert Mcnamara hid said thai Way should be found to increase . Manpower effectiveness. 10 years ego today. July 24,1977 in a final attempt to mediate the rhodesian conflict and a it a racial War . And a Riligh officials started work on a new set of proposals for Buck majority Rule in Rhodesia. The wars among religious evangelists and the Story of her own past terms of payment to Hahn for the Playboy Story will be kept secret he said. No agreement on pictures for the Story has been reached Barbara said. But i can say with certainly that is Hahn will not be appearing in the Centrefold. Hahn will file damage suits against Bakker his wife and the pal and some of the damages will be sought for derogatory remarks Tammy fac allegedly made about Hahn Barbara said. Jim Bakker should meet with Jessica Hahn and beg for her forgiveness he added. Asked whether the appearance of the Story in play boy would harm Hahn s image As a religious woman Barbara said she has a great Deal of love of god but she fell that Playboy could Best report her Story. The facts of this misunderstood Story arc Tough and uncompromising and in is a major reason Why we went Wilh Playboy Trust me the Jessica Hahn that will emerge from this Story will be someone Quile different from inc person you  North defense fund fops $1.27 million Washington a trustees for the Oliver North Legal assistance fund said wednesday that contributions to the former while House aide have topped 11.276million. More than is million has arrived since North first testified about the Iran Contra scandal on july 7, said Phil Huff one of the fund s three trustees All of whom Are former classmates of North s at the . Naval Academy. We re really pleased. It s just been an unbelievable response said Huff. When Ollie began his testimony we had $ 101,000 on hand. We be gained $250,000 in each of the last iwo Days. We had 75,000 pieces of mail just after the first Day of testimony. The Bank that s handling the mail opening and keeping track of the Money had to hire 10 additional people to Deal with the volume Over the past seven Days North a former National Security Council aide was fired by president Reagan last novem Ber following the revelation that profits from inc Sale of arms to Iran had been diverted to the .-Backcd nicaraguan contras. Former postal worker hid undelivered mail in locker Cincinnati a the . Posl Al service says Hal a former postal worker who pleaded guilty to unlawfully de laying the mail stashed More than 2,000 idlers in her locker in an allele met to keep Pace with her workload. Sharon Mart 1 Brown 29, of Cincin Nati pleaded guilty this week in . District coun 10 unlawfully delaying the mail in 1984. Brown faces up to five years in prison and a Sion Fine. She will be sentenced next month. Brown was fired in 1984 for unsatisfactory Job performance. Acco Tjin Kuci Hurt documents Bro a hid 2.032 letters in her locker rather than deliver pm to people on her route. The hidden mail was found this Spring during a renovation and much of it was delivered. Included were checks from the . Treasury and various state agencies the documents said. Defense lawyer Cathy r. Cook said Brown who ii inc sole support for her four children had hidden the letters be Pauur if was unable to keep up Wilh her a of Fuoau. She was just Dort rally trying to hold on to a Job with some Security