Jim McDermott: “We are trying to figure out where we are going as a country and how we can turn our investments and innovation into…”

One of the largest holes in the Medicare system is that it does not currently cover most dental, vision, or hearing expenses.

A strong Medicare doesn't mean we turn the program over to the insurance industry, and it doesn't mean we shift more costs on to the beneficiaries.

I intend to discuss legislation I have recently introduced which will provide beneficiaries with access to comprehensive dental, vision, and hearing services.

Mr. Blumenauer put through a bill, Mr. Levin and I put a bill in 25 years ago, that everybody in Medicare ought to file an advance directive.