Quotes of note

Healthcare Financial Management, Nov, 2004 by Jeanne Schulte Scott

"This was a corruption of the process at the highest levels ... What is still unclear is who in the Bush White House ordered Mr. Scully not to reveal this information."

--Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) on a GAO report finding that former CMS administrator Tom Scully violated federal law in preventing the Medicare auditor from reporting to Congress on the true costs of the new Medicare prescription drug legislation.

"It's a matter of principle. I never did anything wrong, and I am proud of every minute of my three years at CMS. It's just partisan politics."

--Former CMS administrator Tom Scully, responding to his critics.

"On net, Medicare beneficiaries are saving money."

--CMS administrator Mark McClellan on the recent Medicare Part B premium increase.

"In good conscience, I'm not going to hurt the American people by taking legislation that hasn't been carefully considered by this body."

--Sen. majority leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), announcing that he will not allow any legislation allowing the reimportation of drugs to reach the Senate floor this year.

Jeanne Schulte Scott, JD, healthcare lobbyist, Washington, D.C.