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Friday Alert
Friday, June 12, 2009(Alliance for Retired Americans)
Senate HELP Committee Releases
Health Care Bill Containing A Public
Plan
Democrats from the Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and
Pensions (HELP) filed a 651-page health care
reform bill on Tuesday. The bill contains
a public health plan, an employer mandate, and
a guaranteed issue of policy, thereby
disallowing the refusal of coverage for
pre-existing conditions. On retiree
issues, there is a Medicare buy-in for 55-64
year olds, which creates a $10 billion fund to
subsidize employers for the buy-in. It is
similar to the Part D employer subsidy.
Also included in the bill is a provision to
explain the effectiveness of drugs with clear
information. Other Medicare changes will
be in the Senate Finance Committee bill, which
will most likely be out next week. The
Community Living Assistance Services and
Supports Act of 2009 (CLASS Act) is included in
the HELP bill, creating a long term insurance
program for adults who become functionally
disabled. This will help people with
severe functional impairments and their
families pay for the services and support they
need to stay functional and independent, and
allow them to have choices about community
participation, education and employment.
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) will
manage the bill as Committee Chair Ted
Kennedy (D-MA) battles brain
cancer. President Obama
had reiterated to lawmakers last week that he
thinks Americans should have the choice of a
public insurance plan, and the Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services,
Kathleen Sebelius, amplified
that message in an interview with The Wall
Street Journal. However, the
American Medical Association (AMA) has notified
Congress that it will oppose creation of a
government-sponsored insurance plan. "We
have waited a long time for this day," said
Edward F. Coyle, Executive
Director of the Alliance. "Now we need to
see health care reform through to the
end."
House Releases Its Own Health Care
Bill Containing a Public Plan
House
Ways and Means Committee Chairman
Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Energy
and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry
Waxman (D-CA), and Education and Labor
Committee Chairman George
Miller (D-CA) unanimously agree that a
public option plan is necessary in providing
all citizens with affordable and efficient
health care. The Tri-Committee released
their health care reform bill this week, also
on Tuesday. The bill proposes a Health
Insurance Exchange that would include a new
public option, as well as current private
options. Employers would be able to
choose between providing coverage to workers or
contributing funds on behalf of their uncovered
workers ("play or pay"). Like the Senate
bill, the House bill prohibits insurers from
excluding patients based on pre-existing
conditions. Once this reform is in full
effect, insurance will be mandated, excluding
cases of hardship. For Medicare, the
outline has several Part D improvements: it
would shrink the doughnut hole coverage gap;
improve low income access; leave out Part D
means testing; eliminate Medicare Advantage
overpayments; and eliminate cost sharing for
Medicare preventive services. However,
the House bill does not include the CLASS Act
for long term care. "The public plan
option, coupled with the 'play or pay' mandate,
is a commendable step in making health care
affordable for all," said Barbara J.
Easterling, President of the Alliance.
Kaiser Study: Medicare Part D Has
Become More Expensive and Less
Accessible
Medicare's Part D
prescription drug benefit has always been
wrought with loopholes, and according to a new
Kaiser Family Foundation study, this coverage
has eroded over time, with premiums and
cost-sharing requirements increasing.
Beginning in 2006, Medicare has provided
patients with private plan options to receive
their prescription drugs. However, since
that time, there has been an overwhelming
increase in spending. The average
premium, as well as the average cost sharing
for a one-month supply of brand-name drugs, has
increased by 35%. The doughnut hole
remains, and there are fewer plans available to
low-income beneficiaries who are eligible for
additional subsidies. "We are seeing the
inevitable results of insurance companies
having too big a role," argues Ruben
Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the
Alliance.
Alliance State Chapter News: New
Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Hawaii
On
Thursday, the New Hampshire Alliance hosted its
second Retiree Roundtable on Medicare and
Health Reform in North Conway, NH. Next
Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., Leon
Burzynski, President of the Wisconsin
Alliance, will be a witness at a hearing of the
Senate Special Committee on Aging in DC.
The theme of the hearing will be, "Social
Security: Keeping the Promise in the 21st
Century," and it will be held in Room 216 of
the Hart Senate Office Building. Finally,
this Thursday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m., PBS Hawaii
will be airing a local viewing of the film
The Graying of Hawaii, which examines
long term care, family caregiving, and aging in
place in Hawaii. Hawaii Alliance
President Al Hamai and his
colleague Laura Manis appear
in the documentary.
Last Chance to Register for Next
Week’s Alliance Legislative Conference
The Alliance's 2009 Legislative Conference
begins on Monday, June 15 and continues through
June 18 in Washington, DC at the Washington
Hilton. Actress/activist Valerie
Harper will be speaking on Monday
afternoon. Other scheduled speakers at
the conference include Kathleen
Sebelius; Richard
Trumka, Executive Vice President of
the Alliance and Secretary-Treasurer of the
AFL-CIO; Rep. Jan Schakowsky
(D-IL); Larry Cohen, President
of the Communications Workers of America;
James Hoffa, General
President, International Brotherhood of
Teamsters; Gerald McEntee,
International President, American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees;
R. Thomas Buffenbarger,
President, International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers; and many
others. To register, contact Joni
Jones by e-mail at jjones@retiredamericans.org
or by phone at 1-888-373-6497.
Did You Know…
As many as
1/3 of respondents to a survey said that they
are not taking their prescriptions as directed
due to cost, up from about 1/4 three years ago
(The New York Times).
DUE TO THE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE, THE NEXT FRIDAY ALERT WILL BE PUBLISHED ON MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2009.
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