Political Quotes

“the Medicare+Choice program was created as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 to provide Medicare beneficiaries with high quality, cost effective options, in addition to the continuing option of traditional fee-for-service Medicare. When fully implemented, Medicare+Choice will provide seniors with one stop shopping for health care; including hospital and physician coverage, prescription drugs, and even preventive benefits, at a savings. This change in Medicare is monumental. It is dramatic. And it is essential to preserving and strengthening Medicare for our seniors and individuals with disabilities. This change breeds challenges--some that can be predicted but many which cannot. The potential for these challenges to hurt and harm is very real. The senior, so relieved to finally find a health plan that covers the cost of his prescription drugs because of Medicare+Choice, hears this week that he might not have that plan--or that coverage next year. Who to call? What to do? We as a government must respond. This Administration must move decisively to respond and to mend flaws in the system. We on the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare are working hard to address ways to strengthen the security provided by Medicare. And the red flags raised by the announcements this week underscore the importance of this work. No longer can we be satisfied with an outdated, 30 year old bureaucracy as the best way to care for our nation's seniors.”