Weekly Poll: Medicare Wins with Affordable Care Act

Medicare Wins with Affordable Care Act

By Pam Taylor

Despite well-documented examples of Medicare abuse and the latest suggested bi-partisan remedy (Is Curbing Medicare Waste, Fraud in the Cards?), Medicare is critical to the 40 million Americans 64 and over, as well as to others with disabilities, who must rely on it for quaility health care. And critical to Medicare is the Affordable Care Act.

 

Not only does the Affordable Care Act protect beneficiaries from significant increases in costs or cuts, provisions in the Act have resulted in significant declines in premium fees for the second year in a row.  And in 2012, premiums are projected to be 11.5 percent below 2010 premiums. 

Also by 2012, all beneficiaries will have access to Medicare-covered preventive services without paying a co-pay or deductible, including an annual wellness visit with their doctors.  The Act has not only strengthened consumer protections, it provides the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with the authority to offer better Medicare plan choices.

 

According to CMS Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick, because of new provisions in the Affordable Care Act, “Medicare Advantage and prescription drug benefits are stronger than ever, and beneficiaries will continue to have access to a range of affordable products.” 2012 Medicare Advantage premiums fall and projected enrollment rises

The Affordable Care Act is a win for millions of Americans.  Why are opponents trying to turn back the clock without countering with meaningful and timely measures for improving health care services and delivery?  I say, let’s get politics out of health care reform.  

What say you?

Short-sighted GOP Steadily Dismantling Health Reform

J. Howard DeHoff, MD, of South Whitehall Township, is a primary care internist.

Short-sighted GOP Steadily Dismantling Health Reform

The House GOP is gloating about the recent passage of HR 1216, which rescinds the funds obligated by the Affordable Care Act for training much-needed primary care physicians, but millions of Americans will suffer if the Senate follows suit. The shortage of primary care physicians has already reached crisis levels in many areas -- nearly every county in Pennsylvania is experiencing a shortage of primary care providers. And according to primary care physician Dr. Howard DeHoff, "by 2025, there will be a shortage of 35,000 to 44,000 primary care physicians leaving more than 66 million Americans without access to quality care." The result, he worries, will be millions of people at risk for heart attacks, diabetes, obesity, depression, domestic violence, tobacco addiction, drug and alcohol abuse, arthritis, influenza -- and without quality care. What's the old saying -- "an ounce of prevention..."

To view full article: http://www.mcall.com/opinion/yourview/mc-primary-care-physicians-dehoff-yv-20110608,0,6645569.story