Nancy L. Johnson: “I just want to thank the preceding speaker for his support of Medicare select. There were 408 Members of this House that…”

“I just want to thank the preceding speaker for his support of Medicare select. There were 408 Members of this House that voted for it. I hope every one of those 408 Members will vote for it again, because this is an entirely voluntary alternative for our seniors. In the States where it has been available, it has offered them more care at a lower cost and been well-regulated by both the State and the industry and some Federal rules. I also want to point out that as we reform Medicare, as we assure that Medicare will be there for our seniors and provide the quality of care that we have depended on Medicare for, we will over the next 7 years increase spending per senior in America from $4,800 on average to $6,700 on average. That is a one-third increase, a very solid increase in the face of declining costs in the health care sector. Our seniors are going to be well cared for. While change is hard, if it is made with concern and in a responsible way, we can increase the money that we make available for senior care per capita throughout this Nation in an honorable way and one that supports the needs of retirees in this great Nation of ours.”