WALLY HERGER: “This mismanagement of our resources does not affect the economy alone. It has led to unhealthy forests that become…”

The issue of consolidation warrants this subcommittee's attention as all health care cost drivers need to be closely examined, especially in this challenging economic and budget environment.

Understanding the successful structure of the current MA program, and the challenges the program will face because of the Democrats' health law, is key to ensuring Medicare meets the needs of seniors now and into the future.

It is puzzling why CMS has not taken commonsense steps to protect Medicare beneficiaries from preventable identity theft by removing Social Security numbers from their Medicare cards.

This highlights a concern I have. The President and congressional Democrats clearly went out of their way during the legislative debate to hide the fact that this is a tax.