Political Quotes

“today I rise along with my distinguished colleague from Michigan, Senator Levin, to introduce legislation which will expand the number of health care choices available to residents of Michigan. This bill will provide Medicare beneficiaries in Michigan the opportunity to obtain health care from The Wellness Plan, a longstanding, federally qualified health maintenance organization. The Wellness Plan has been recognized by national leaders, including two former Secretaries of the Department of Health and Human Services, as a model managed care plan. In addition, the Wellness Plan has made significant contributions to improving the health and well-being of its enrollees, many of whom are poor women and children, by decreasing infant mortality, effectively reducing hypertension, and increasing mammography rates. The Wellness Plan has been serving the Medicaid population for over two decades. It currently has 150,000 enrollees, 141,000 of whom are Medicaid, 12,000 commercial and 2,000 Medicare. Since 1993, the Wellness Plan has had a health care prepayment plan contract with Medicare. However, technical changes enacted by Congress effective January 1, 1996, had the unintended effect of preventing the Wellness Plan from enrolling additional Medicare beneficiaries under the HCPP contract. The Wellness Plan is positioned to become a full Medicare risk contractor but currently is precluded from doing so due to the 50/ 50 Medicare/Medicaid enrollment composition rule.”