The fight continues on the "Sham" Medicare Bill
Oct 8, 2004 11:38 AM
November 26, 2003
“Sham” Medicare Bill Enacted but Battle Is Not Over! The Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act (H.R.1), which sets in motion the privatization of the traditional fee-for-service Medicare program, has been enacted into law. President George W. Bush has pledged to sign it. The Senate voted 54-44 on Tuesday to adopt the bill which squeaked through the House early Saturday morning by a vote of 220 to 215. The House vote came only after the GOP-controlled House violated its own rules regarding the time allowed for voting by several hours to provide President Bush with time to twist the arms of some reluctant members of his own party. An effort, led by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), to filibuster the bill in the Senate failed 70-29. A second effort involving budget-related objections, led by Senate Democratic Leader Thomas Daschle (D-SD), also failed 61-39. “Many older Americans remember ‘Black Tuesday’ as the day the Stock Market crashed in 1929 but there is a new ‘Black Tuesday’ that will be remembered by future generations. It is Tuesday, November 25, 2003 — the day that the U. S. Senate voted to privatize Medicare,” says George J. Kourpias, President of the Alliance for Retired Americans. Kourpias, who called it a “sad day for America’s seniors,” says: “Older Americans will remember the lawmakers who voted to give billions of dollars in subsidies to private insurance companies and drug manufacturers while making it possible to dismantle the health care program on which 40 million elderly and disabled Americans depend. Their names will be added to a permanent ‘Hall of Shame.’”
Kourpias issued the following message to Alliance activists, “There is no question that the passage of this sham prescription drug bill makes our job harder but all is not lost. Seniors will remember that, in 1989, when details of the infamous catastrophic bill were finally revealed, Congress was forced to repeal it. We can make that happen with this legislation. First, we have to educate older Americans and their families on exactly what this bill does and does not do. This bill is being hailed by Republicans as a landmark prescription drug bill but the truth is that it is nothing more than an all out assault on the Medicare program. When seniors realize that they have been betrayed by the very lawmakers they helped elect, the public outcry will reach every corner of this country, and then we’ll see how fast Members of Congress can act when their jobs are at stake,” says Kourpias.
Winners in Medicare Bill The following is a list of the groups that benefit from the Medicare bill:
Pharmaceutical industry will reap additional profits estimated at $139 billion over the next 10 years. Private insurance companies will get $12 billion as an incentive to provide service in certain areas of the country. Doctors, hospitals and other care providers in rural areas will get a total of $25 billion over 10 years. Health maintenance organizations, hospitals and physicians will be paid more by the government for treating Medicare beneficiaries. Businesses will reap $86 billion worth of payments and tax benefits ($70 billion in direct payments and $16 billion in new tax breaks). Losers in Medicare Bill Here are some of the groups that lose under the Medicare bill:
Millions of seniors whose prescription drug bills are between $2,250 and $5,100 per year. They will have no coverage but must still pay monthly premiums. Millions of retirees whose employer-provided drug coverage is threatened. More than six million “dual eligibles” — currently enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare — who will be moved to Medicare but may lose essential drug coverage from Medicaid. Four million seniors who will not qualify for low-income protections because of a restrictive "assets" test. Why Alliance Opposes New Medicare Law Executive Director Edward F. Coyle says, “The Alliance for Retired Americans continues to oppose the Medicare Prescription Drug and Medicare Modernization Act and will work to have it overturned before it ever goes into effect.” Coyle cites the following objections to the bill:
Privatizes Medicare, which would leave seniors at the mercy of private insurers and allow HMOs or PPOs to set premiums and benefits. Private insurers do not guarantee premiums, can drop patients and change coverage. Forces seniors to pay sharply increased premiums to stay in traditional Medicare if they do not move into an HMO or PPO. Includes huge gaps in coverage that — coupled with the higher premiums — will increase financial hardships for seniors with multiple health issues who live on fixed incomes. The gaps in coverage will leave half of seniors without drug coverage for part of the year. Does nothing to bring down the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs. In fact, the bill prohibits the Medicare program from using its tremendous purchasing power to negotiate lower drug prices. Continues the ban to reimport safe, affordable drugs from Canada unless the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deems them safe — something HHS refuses to do. To find out how you will fare under the new prescription drug benefit, visit Help Save Medicare from Privateers article in the NY Teacher.
Democrats Who Supported Medicare Bill These 16 House Democrats voted for the Medicare bill: Cramer (AL), Dooley (CA), Boyd (FL), Marshall (GA), Scott (GA), Alexander (LA), John (LA), Peterson (MN), Pomeroy (ND), Carson (OK), Wu (OR), Davis (TN), Hall (TX), Stenholm (TX), Matheson (UT) and Boucher (VA).
These 11 Senate Democrats voted for the Medicare bill: Baucus (MT), Breaux (LA), Carper (DE), Conrad (ND), Dorgan (ND), Feinstein (CA), Landrieu (LA), Lincoln (AR), Miller (GA), Nelson (NE) and Wyden (OR).
Republicans Who Opposed Medicare Bill These 25 House Republicans voted against the Medicare bill: Flake (AZ), Shadegg (AZ), Musgrave (CO), Tancredo (CO), Feeney (FL), Miller (FL), Norwood (GA), Burton (IN), Hostettler (IN), Pence (IN), Moran (KS), Ryun (KS), Smith (MI), Gutknecht (MN), Akin (MO), Emerson (MO), Garrett (NJ), Jones (NC), Chabot (OH), Toomey (PA), Barrett (SC), DeMint (SC), Wamp (TN), Culberson (TX) and Paul (TX).
These nine Senate Republicans voted against the Medicare bill: Chafee (RI), Ensign (NV), Graham (SC), Gregg (NH), Hagel (NE), Lott (MS), McCain (AZ), Nickles (OK) and Sununu (NH).
What’s Next on GOP Agenda? Republican Congressional leaders who believe they have dealt with the issue of Medicare are now expected to turn their attention to revamping Social Security, the nation’s primary retirement program. In fact, The Washington Post reports that aides for President George W. Bush have already announced plans to revisit his proposal to privatize Social Security by allowing some portion of Social Security payroll taxes to be diverted into stocks. Early in his Administration, President Bush appointed a commission to study the proposal. According to the Post, “The commission recommended three approaches that would each cost at least $2 trillion, to make up for the money that would need to be paid in benefits but would no longer be coming from younger workers.” The Social Security Administration has announced it will hold town hall meetings on the issue next year. Co-sponsors of the events will be the National Association of Manufacturers and AARP. Secretary-Treasurer Ruben Burks warns, “The Alliance for Retired Americans will fight any efforts by the President or Congress aimed at privatizing, weakening, diminishing or otherwise dismantling the Social Security system.” Burks points out that Social Security is far more than just a retirement program for older Americans, it is a family security program. “Each month, nearly 46 million Americans get Social Security benefits: 32 million retirees, their spouses and children; 7 million surviving widows, widowers and children; 6.7 million people with disabilities and their spouses and children,” says Burks.
