The National Healthcare Debate



Revamping Medicare: A Guide To The Proposals, Politics And Timeline
Congress is unlikely to consider legislation that would fundamentally restructure Medicare until a new Congress —and possibly a new president— are seated in 2013.   But politicians have sought to tackle the growth in Medicare costs several times in the past two years, most notably in the 2010 health care law and, then again, in last year's budget deal.
The more immediate pressure is to reduce the deficit by the end of this year to stop automatic 2 percent spending cuts from going into effect in 2013, as required by last year's budget agreement.   That will likely entail slowing spending in Medicare, which provides health care to 47 million seniors and disabled people and consumes about 15 percent of the federal budget.
Kaiser Health News answered several frequently-asked questions about the timeline for overhauling Medicare and reducing spending, and the proposals under consideration.

Affordable Care Act

Information on the ACA:
ACA State-by-State Numbers
Two years after the passage of the ACA, it has continued to provide thousands of Americans with insurance protections, preventive benefits, and resources to improve care.   For more information on the benefits of the law in a particular state, please go to www.healthcare.gov/law/resources/index.html
See more on MCOA's National Legislation Updates Page:
National Legislation Updates

Two New Medicare Premium-Support Plans Added to Side-by-Side Comparison
(http://www.kff.org/medicare/8284.cfm)
The Kaiser Family Foundation brief comparing recent proposals to transform Medicare into a premium support program now includes two new proposals:  the "Path to Prosperity" fiscal year 2013 budget plan released by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan on March 20, and the Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act of 2012 (S. 2196), introduced by Sen. Rand Paul on March 15.
    The brief compares the features of the Medicare premium support proposals in the two new plans with three other proposals:  "The Seniors' Choice Act," released on February 16, 2012 by Sens. Richard Burr and Tom Coburn;  the "Guaranteed Choices to Strengthen Medicare and Health Security for All: Bipartisan Options for the Future," released on December 15, 2011 by Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Paul Ryan;  and the "Domenici-Rivlin Premium Support Plan," initially released on November 1, 2011 by former Senator Pete Domenici and Dr. Alice Rivlin.
    For each plan, the comparison examines how the level of premium support for beneficiaries would be determined;  whether traditional Medicare would remain an option;  what protections would be provided for low-income beneficiaries;  and whether and how the proposals would cap federal spending on Medicare.   These differences have important implications for Medicare beneficiaries, the federal budget, health care providers and private health plans.
    The side-by-side is available online at http://www.kff.org/medicare/8284.cfm.   It is part of a broader collection of resources related to deficit-reduction proposals affecting health care, including Medicare and Medicaid available online at www.kff.org/medicare/Medicare-Medicaid-Deficit-Resources.cfm.

Our New Healthcare Explained

The new one-stop-shop that helps you take control of your health care coverage -- President Obama wanted to be sure you know about this great resource.   Check out this video he made demonstrating the website and learn how you can benefit from the tools and resources on www.HealthCare.gov

National Town Hall Meeting on Healthcare to be televised June 1 2010

"Though the deadline has passed, I would still recommend taping this program for use at your senior center."   — David P. Stevens, MCOA

House and Senate Leadership Bills Compared Side-by-Side


NCOA — Re-Forming Health Care:

Americans Speak Out about Chronic Conditions & the Pursuit of Healthier Lives



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