Medicare

11/12/09 -- U.S. Representative Nick J. Rahall (W.Va.- 03) issued the following statement regarding the healthcare reform bill, The Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), which was passed by the House of Representatives by a vote of 220 to 215 on November 7th, 2009.

“I have been a pro-life Member of Congress since I was first elected in 1976. I believe in the sanctity of life for those of all ages -- young and old, and I believe that every life deserves to be saved, which is why I voted in favor of H.R., 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.”    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Congressman Paul Hodes announced today that the Open Enrollment period for Medicare beneficiaries begins Sunday, November 15th and ends on December 31st. Seniors can use this time to make sure they have the best health care coverage to meet their needs. The Open Enrollment period is the one time each year when Medicare beneficiaries can review their coverage and make any necessary changes to ensure that their coverage meets their needs.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) - Congressman Baron Hill issued the following statement addressing false claims circulating about how the Affordable Health Care for America Act would impact seniors:

“This week, I have heard from several Southern Indiana seniors who are justifiably concerned by what they’re hearing from a group outside Indiana regarding how Medicare would be affected by the health care reform bill. This group is being disingenuous, scaring folks with alarming and false claims, and as such, I’d like to set the record straight.    » read more »

November 12, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today announced his determination to fight against any upcoming health care legislation that further damages an already weakened public health insurance option.

Grijalva said that as the Senate takes up a final reform bill, a public plan should be offered without conditions to Americans in every state similar to the version approved in the House on Saturday.

“The House vote was a significant step, but much more work remains to be done,” said Grijalva, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “Now the fight becomes about what kind of public option will survive. It will be very difficult for me to support a product that puts too many roadblocks in the way of broad public participation.”    » read more »

Reminds Seniors About Medicare Enrollment Period

November 13, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - Rep. Brad Ellsworth is reminding 8th District seniors and their families to take advantage of the upcoming Medicare Part D Open Enrollment period beginning November 15th. The annual Open Enrollment period allows seniors to sign-up for a drug plan or make changes to their current coverage.

Seniors can enroll by contacting their chosen plan directly or contacting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or by visiting: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/openenrollment.asp. The Open Enrollment period begins on November 15th and continues through December 31st of this year.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- AFL-CIO President Robert Haynes, on behalf of the AFL-CIO members, thanked Congressman Michael E. Capuano for his historic vote in favor of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) in a letter dated November 10, 2009.

The letter states, "you and the other nine members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation who took a stand... are showing the rest of our nation how to lead on this important moral and economic issue." It goes on to say, "...working families will remember who fulfilled the promises they were elected to keep."    » read more »

Kerry Proposal Builds on Successful Best Practices in Massachusetts Health Care Reform

11/13/2009 --
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), a senior member of the Finance Committee, has written Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) requesting Kerry’s proposal to provide affordable insurance plans for the middle class be included in the health reform legislation that comes to the senate floor.

Kerry’s plan, often referred to as “prudent purchasing,” would allow state-run health insurance marketplaces to negotiate with private insurance companies to select the best, most affordable options for consumers.    » read more »

Will Require New Approaches in Designing, Adopting Strategies

November 11, 2009 -- Slowing the growth in U.S. health care spending will most likely require adoption of an array of strategies as well as an improved approach to moving promising strategies into widespread use, according to a new analysis by the RAND Corporation.

The most-promising option for curbing health care spending is changing the way doctors and hospitals are paid to provide care, but implementing such a system must overcome significant obstacles in order to be successful, according to the study published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.    » read more »

Pre-Market Testing Was Flawed, Public Citizen says

Nov. 11, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Medicare should deny reimbursement for a medical device for depression that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved despite unconvincing test results, Public Citizen said today in a letter sent to Medicare officials.

“The scant evidence presented for approval of this device does not come close to matching the type of data typically required for approval of anti-depressant drugs” said Dr. Peter Lurie, deputy director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group. “Medicare should not approve coverage of this unproven device because it could divert patients from more effective therapies.”    » read more »

“Nearly four million calls to action were sent to AARP members”

November 12, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- After an historic vote in the House of Representatives this past Saturday, AARP and its nearly 40 million members remain hard at work, fighting for comprehensive health reform. As the health care reform debate moves to the Senate, AARP members are continuing to engage their friends and families in sending a message to Members of Congress that the time to fix the problems with our health care system is now.    » read more »

Supporters Join Congressman to Support Historic Vote for Reform

10 November 2009 -- (Bristol, PA) – Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) joined Bucks County seniors, nurses, and small business owners to laud House passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Nurses and seniors were on hand to share their experiences on why this critical health insurance reform legislation will help make coverage more accessible and affordable for 8th District residents. Organizing for America (OFA) and Health Care for America Now (HCAN) members joined the Congressman in a show of support for his vote in favor of this historic legislation.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a press conference today, Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE) and fellow Democratic Senators Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Paul Kirk (D-MA) joined a small business owner to discuss how health insurance reform will provide stable, affordable coverage for the middle class.

Under the current system, the cost of health care rises three times faster than wages and continues to eat away the paychecks of hard-working Americans. Reform will lower costs and ensure that middle class families will have the health care coverage that they need.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - House Democrats passed an historic bill last week that reforms our nation’s health insurance system, brings down the deficit and expands access to affordable, quality health care to nearly every American. The Affordable Health Care for America Act offers security and stability to all Americans, reduces costs, improves coverage and preserves our choice of doctors, hospitals and health plans.    » read more »

10 November 2009 -- Washington, D.C. Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) released the following statement regarding his vote for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

“Nearly forty-five years ago, Congress enacted a comprehensive Medicare and Medicaid plan which, to date, provides poor and low income families in Mississippi with health care coverage. Passage of The Affordable Health Care for America Act will have the same monumental significance that Medicare and Medicaid has provided for many Americans. It is my hope that the Senate will move swiftly to pass a similar version of the House bill to provide quality and affordable health care for all Americans.”    » read more »

Bipartisan Bill Supported by Congressman Space, AARP, AMA

11/10/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fighting to overcome a health care crisis that has crippled Ohio’s seniors, working families, rural health care providers, and small businesses, Congressman Zack Space (OH-18) supported a bipartisan health care bill in the House of Representatives that will save consumers who are legal residents more than $5000 in premiums and will save seniors thousands of dollars in prescription drug costs.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act has been endorsed by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the nation’s largest seniors group, as well as the American Medical Association (AMA), the largest association of physicians and medical students in the United States.    » read more »