Year in review 2003-2004: overview.

The year preceding June 30, 2004, was one of the most active periods in the development of health policy and health law in a generation. Against the odds, President Bush delivered on his promise of a prescription drug benefit for Medicare beneficiaries. As with all momentous legislation, the prescription drug benefit was accompanied by legislative changes both large and small, affecting virtually every sector of the healthcare community. In addition to new legislation, the Bush administration continued to release regulations deemed vitally important by those regulated. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations pursued new standards and processes to improve patient safety, and the courts dealt with a myriad of health law issues.