Health Care Reform for Seniors - August 28, 2009
August 28, 2009
Dear Friend,
Thank you for reading another edition of my e-newsletter, the Carson Courier. For additional information on these and other topics, please visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov.
In this week's Carson Courier:
How Health-Care Reform Will Help Seniors
How health-care reform will help seniors
For more than 40 years, Medicare has offered critical health and financial stability for senior citizens and people with disabilities—providing coverage for over 45 million individuals this year alone. Unfortunately, as the number of "baby boomers" reaching retirement age continues to grow, the costs of our current Medicare system are rising at a pace that are simply unsustainable. While immediate reforms are clearly necessary, the end result will be a stronger, more effective Medicare program.
Seniors across the 7th Congressional District stand to see some of the greatest benefit from the America's Affordable Health Choices Act, but are unfortunately being bombarded with constant misinformation and a lack of reliable health-care reform resources. In this edition of the Carson Courier, I would like to address some of the concerns continually raised about health-care reform by seniors across our city and shed light on some of the incorrect information that has been promulgated by reform opponents.
Medicare Provisions in the Bill:
- Fills the Part D Drug Program Donut Hole: Addresses one of seniors' top concerns by filling in the Medicare Part D "donut hole," which will make prescription drugs more affordable. Seniors will receive 50% discounts on brand?name drugs in the donut hole immediately. The donut hole is reduced by $500 in 2011 and it is completely filled over a number of years.
- Enhances Preventive Coverage: Eliminates copayments for preventive services in Medicare.
- Helps Low-Income Seniors: Improves low?income subsidy programs to help ensure Medicare is affordable for those with low and modest incomes.
- Combats Waste, Fraud & Abuse: Ensures the program operates in the best interests of its beneficiaries – and all taxpayers – by expanding authority to fight waste, fraud and abuse.
- Ends Medicare Advantage Overpayments: Ends overpayments to private health plans in Medicare, called Medicare Advantage plans, and adds additional consumer protections to ensure that these plans are investing premiums in patient care and do not charge higher cost?sharing than traditional Medicare.
- Protecting the Doctor-Patient Relationship and Improving Quality: Resolves a long?standing problem with the physician payment formula in a way that promotes primary care and advances innovation. Investments in health delivery system reform will improve coordinated care, promote efficiency, and enhance quality.
- Extends the Medicare Trust Fund: Following the advice of experts at the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the proposal makes numerous changes in provider payments that enhance the solvency of Medicare and put it on stronger financial footing for the future.
The Truth About "Death Panels" and "Selective Standards"
Health-reform opponents continue to spread myths about provisions contained within the America's Affordable Health Choices Act. However, one after another, the facts have disproved these claims and show that the true intention of this health-care reform proposal is to ensure that all Americans have access to the care they need at each stage of their lives.
Myth: H.R. 3200 will mandate that seniors meet with "death panels" which will restrict treatment and encourage euthanasia in order to reduce costs.
Fact: Nothing could be further from the truth. America's Affordable Health Choices Act extends Medicare coverage to cover the cost of patients voluntarily speaking with their doctors about their values and preferences regarding care later in life—empowering older Americans on this critical issue. These are deeply personal decisions that take thoughtful consideration, and the bill makes clear that medical determinations will be made solely by patients, their family, and their doctors
- There is nothing in the bill that can be construed as a "death panel." There are no government-chosen professionals involved in these decisions. There are no government officials using "selective standards" to decide anything about a person's medical treatment plan. The legislation simply allows Medicare to pay for a conversation between patients and their doctors.
- Advance planning consultations are not mandatory; this benefit is completely voluntary. The provision merely provides coverage under Medicare to have a conversation once every five years if – and only if – a patient chooses.
For more information on how health-care reform will help seniors, visit my Online Health Care Forum here.
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns. I value your views and your input which help me to better represent the people of Indiana's 7th District in Congress.