OncologyAARP On Medicare Trustees Report: "Medicare's Accelerating Insolvency. Will Only Be Fixed By Comprehensive Reform In 2009."
AARP Executive Vice President John Rother issued the
following statement on today"s release of the Medicare Trustees
report.
"This year"s report by the Trustees is yet another clarion call
for health care reform.
"Medicare"s accelerating insolvency is largely a result of two
problems-an economic recession that is increasing demand on public
health programs while lowering revenues, and skyrocketing costs
throughout the health care system-that will only be fixed by
comprehensive reform in 2009.
"Skyrocketing health care costs are squeezing individuals and
employers, as well as threatening the security of Medicare-a
lifeline for tens of millions of Americans.
"The good news, however, is that there are health care reform
solutions that can strengthen Medicare for future generations as
well as those in the program today.
"As the White House and Congress work together on reform
legislation, we are telling them that any final package must
include the creation of a Medicare follow-up care benefit, which
would help people safely transition to their homes or another
setting after a hospital stay, coordinate their health care needs
and prevent unnecessary hospital readmissions.
"A follow-up care benefit is one of many solutions that, if done
right, can lower costs for individuals and improve the quality of
health care, all while saving billions of dollars.
"To ensure that Medicare can remain strong for future generations,
we also need real health delivery system reform that eliminates
waste, inefficiency, and fraud to bring down costs throughout the
system. That includes cutting subsidies to private Medicare
Advantage plans and improving the coordination of care in both
public programs and private plans, as well as reducing drug prices
through measures like creating a pathway for generic versions of
biologic drugs.
"There will be cynics today who only focus on a symptom-Medicare"s
accelerating insolvency-instead of the much larger problem posed by
skyrocketing health care costs. At this stage of the game, however,
we should all be focusing on solutions.
"We cannot solve the problems in Medicare without addressing the
crisis that plagues our entire health care system. Congress and
the White House must work together to pass comprehensive reform this
year so that our children and grandchildren can count on the same
security that Medicare has provided to their families for decades."
For more information about AARP"s health reform campaign, please
visit http://www.aarp.org/GovernmentWatch.
AARP