Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I want to comment briefly on the Medicare provisions in the bill. One or more of my colleagues has expressed concern about the inclusion of some provisions in this legislation that are important. I want to make sure my colleagues understand these measures do not in any way adversely affect Medicare beneficiaries. Several of us, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone), none of us would have signed off on legislation that would have done anything but that. One of these provisions is critically important for Medicare beneficiaries. Under current law, beneficiaries who choose to enroll in a managed care plan become locked into that plan. They must wait until the annual open enrollment program to switch plans or go into Medicare fee for service. This bill removes that restriction, delays it for 3 years. We want to continue to delay it. The best we could do in the compromise was a 3-year delay rather than a permanent removal, so that Medicare beneficiaries can leave managed care, are not locked into that plan, can leave any time during the year and not just in the annual open enrollment period.”