AARP Backs Senate Proposal to Help Medicare
As most of us who read or listen to the news know, there are some extensive efforts by Congress at this time to stop the Bush Administration from enacting regulations making cuts to the pay of doctors and creating other problems for Medicare and Medicare beneficiaries.
There are many points that AARP is looking at backing as far as the Senate Bill by Max Baucus along with several Senators, because AARP thinks these will improve Medicare.
Some of the most important issues AARP has highlighted have been limiting premium increases to Medicare beneficiaries and not limiting payments to physicians treating and caring for Medicare beneficiaries.
AARP CEO, Bill Novelli, states that the bills improvements will directly benefit Medicare beneficiaries. By the same token, Novelli says that “physicians treating Medicare beneficiaries need to be paid fairly.”
The bill will include some other important benefits. It will ensure that more lower-income people in Medicare have access to more financial assistance and a better, more streamlined application process, rather than the sluggish process that leaves individuals in limbo for months and sometimes years, waiting to be accepted for much needed, medically necessary services.
AARP states that the bill that Chairman Baucus has proposed improves Medicare, keeps doctors in the program and does it without unnecessary increases in premiums for people in the Medicare program. This is essential because in the past, some benefits were subsidized and saved by unaffordable increases in premiums. Though premiums have to sometimes be raised to balance the programs out, some raises have been simply unacceptable and unaffordable. AARP feels that this bill will keep all parts of the puzzle balanced and give Congress the time to look at long-term solutions that will work as a win-win for as many parties as possible.
We will provide updates as the deadline later this month draws closer. There is more information available almost daily. This is an important issue and AARP plus many others throughout the country are happy and relieved that there are some sensible options and solutions being explored.
