Russ Feingold: “I joined my colleague, the distinguished Senator from Oregon, Mr. Smith, in offering an amendment to promote better care…”

“I joined my colleague, the distinguished Senator from Oregon, Mr. Smith, in offering an amendment to promote better care for frail elderly and disabled. This amendment will allow the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to designate health plans that disproportionately serve special needs beneficiaries as specialized Medicare Advantage plans. A number of States have successfully chosen to serve seniors and the disabled by combining Medicare and Medicaid services through a waiver approved by the Department of Health and Human Services that integrates services under Medicare and Medicaid capitated financing arrangements. These programs provide beneficiaries with a comprehensive benefit package that combines the services traditionally provided by Medicare, Medicaid, and home and community based waiver programs. In my home State of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Partnership Program is one such success, a community-based program that has improved the quality, access, and cost-effectiveness of the care delivered to its beneficiaries. Perhaps most important to the beneficiaries, these programs help the disabled and the frail elderly remain in their own community, and avoid institutionalized care.”