Last week, I held six “Tom in Your Town” events around the Fifth District to hear my constituents’ questions and opinions about how we can solve the health-care crisis in this country. Many people, including myself, worried that we were moving too quickly and spending too much to fix the problem, so I insisted that Congress spend the month of August sharing accurate information with the American people and listening to everyone’s concerns and hopes.
Our seniors have particular concerns about how health-care reform will affect them, and want to know that the quality care they have been promised through Medicare will be protected. Here are some of the ways the current draft of the healthcare legislation in the House will affect our seniors who are currently covered under Medicare.
First, the bill would eliminate the “donut hole” in Medicare Part D, on a phased-in basis. Drug manufacturers would provide 50 percent discounts on brand-name drugs in the donut hole to reduce costs. Closing the “donut hole” would mean that our seniors would have continuous coverage for their vital prescriptions. Also in the House legislation, the government would be allowed to negotiate cheaper drug prices for Medicare, bringing down costs for the entire system. There are also new consumer protections, such as allowing seniors to change drug plans if the plan in which they are currently enrolled makes a formulary change in the middle of the year.
Additionally, new savings and anti-fraud efforts in the reform legislation would strengthen the financial health of Medicare, protecting both seniors and taxpayers. It would extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund so we can keep the promise we made to our seniors. Specifically, the reformed system would reward primary care, preventative care, and efficiency. For example, it would expand programs that reward physicians for spending time coordinating care for their patients. It would also increase the reimbursement for primary care services.
One of the most common concerns I hear from seniors is the sheer lack of doctors, especially in rural areas. The healthcare bill before Congress would invest significantly in the training of new primary care physicians, nurses, and public health professionals. It would increase funding for the National Health Service Corps to address health workforce shortages in high-need areas, such as rural and low-income communities. Additionally, it would expand education, practice, and retention programs for new nurses, dentists, and dental hygienists.
Finally, the legislation would guarantee a specific set of benefits in any plan in the new Health Insurance Exchange so that seniors will not have to worry about being underinsured if they get sick. Some of these guaranteed benefits for patients of all ages include: inpatient hospital services; outpatient hospital services; physician services; equipment and supplies incident to physician services; preventive services; maternity services; prescription drugs; rehabilitative and habilitative services; well baby and well child visits and oral health, vision, and hearing services for children; and mental health and substance abuse services.
The full text of the draft bill, along with fact sheets and analyses, is posted on my online healthcare forum: www.perriello.house.gov/healthcareforum where your comments are welcome.
Please feel free to contact me to share your concerns and ideas. You may call 888.4.TOM4US (888.486.6487); write to 1520 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20515; or visit www.perriello.house.gov to sign up for my weekly e-newsletter.
Tom Perriello represents the Fifth District in the United States House of Representatives.
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