Political Quotes

“According to the Secretary of HHS, the consequences for Medicare beneficiaries of H.R. 1 are dire, to say the least. I don't have the calculations for the number of Medicare beneficiaries who would be affected nationwide, but I can give my colleagues the effect it would have on Montana, and that way they can extrapolate that into what the effect would be nationwide. Essentially, according to the Secretary's letter, she says that because the health care reform bill repealed certain provisions in Medicare and then replaced them with other provisions to address quality and help provide better health care especially for seniors, that H.R. 1, because it repeals the provisions in the health care law put in place to provide benefits for seniors, would have the effect of cutting health care to seniors. For example, essentially the House amendment would eliminate private Medicare coverage under Medicare Advantage. That is the effect of H.R. 1. If one is a Medicare recipient under a Medicare Advantage plan, under H.R. 1 they would no longer be allowed to receive benefits. In my State of Montana, Medicare Advantage covers about 26,000 seniors. That is only the State of Montana. But nationwide, of course, it would be hundreds of thousands, probably close to in the millions of seniors who would no longer be able to benefit under Medicare Advantage. They would be thrown off. That is what the HHS Secretary says. I will read the significant sentence.…”