Senator Mikulski on Medicare & Health Care Reform

I just received the following reply from Senator Barbara Mikulski on Medicare and Health Care Reform.

After you read her response, let me know if this is really long term thinking or are the politicians just trying to postpone the inevitable?

Dear Mr. Wolfe:

Thank you for getting in touch with me about Medicare and health care reform. It's great to hear from you.

I want Medicare to remain strong for seniors - now and in the future. If we do nothing, the Medicare Hospital Trust fund will go broke in 2017. The Senate bill extends the life of Medicare by an additional 9 years by enacting rational reforms to modernize and improve the program. Changes also will preserve choice and quality of care, lower costs, and add new benefits. Changes in the Senate bill include:

-providing financial incentives to health providers to reduce preventable hospital readmissions

-providing no-cost preventive benefits so that seniors stay healthy through easy access to preventive services

-reducing overpayments to private Medicare insurers and replacing them with payment bonuses tied to quality and care coordination

I believe we can ensure the solvency of Medicare without creating a financial burden for seniors or providers. Know that I will continue to fight so that our seniors can have access to quality, affordable health care.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a step forward in achieving my four principles of health care reform:

-saving and strengthening Medicare

-ending punitive insurance company practices that deny coverage based on pre-existing health conditions, age and gender

-providing universal access to health care

-emphasizing quality, prevention and integrative health to save lives and save money

Our bill makes also makes it easier for retired workers between 55 and 65 years of age who are not yet eligible for Medicare. It creates a temporary reinsurance program to provide reimbursement to employers who provide health benefits to retirees and their dependents. By enacting insurance reforms that prohibit discrimination based on age or pre-existing health conditions, the bill also makes it easier for early retirees to purchase affordable care. I am committed to making sure the health care needs of retirees are protected.

Thanks once again for writing. Please let me know if I can be of assistance in the future.

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator