Medicare Monitor
The Palm Beach Post's veteran Washington correspondent, Larry Lipman, tracks policy makers and interest groups who are shaping the future of the federal health insurance program for the elderly.Medicare Web Resources
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Medicare is the federal health care system that covers about 36 million people age 65 and older, plus 7 million disabled. It has four parts:
Financed by a 2.9 percent payroll tax divided equally between employees and employers.
Financed by beneficiary premiums and federal general revenue. Current monthly premiums are $93.50. Starting this year, individuals whose taxable income is more than $80,000 will pay a higher premium.
Financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans.
The plans are private and financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans.
-- Larry Lipman
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All the entries posted on September 07, 2007.
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Home > Medicare Monitor > Archives > 2007 > September > 07
Friday, September 7, 2007
AARP-AMA urge Senate SCHIP bill to include Medicare
Two of the most powerful lobbies in Washington urged the Senate to include Medicare reforms during negotiations to meld the vastly different House and Senate versions of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program reauthorization bill.
Simply put, the Senate bill doesn’t mention Medicare.
The House bill slashes payments to Medicare Advantage plans and eliminates a 10 percent Medicare cut in doctor payments scheduled to take effect Jan. 1.
The American Medical Association and AARP both like the House version better.
The letter glosses over cuts in Medicare Advantage and stresses additional benefits such as more preventive care and low income assistance in the House version.
“We urge Congress to part with ‘business as usual’ and take action to pay physicians fairly. Medicare improvements for physicians and protections for beneficiaries deserve to be addressed now, with responsible funding, rather than rushed through before Congress adjourns, as has been customary in years past,” the letter says.
Read the full letter here.