Coburn, Burr Unveil Plan to Save Medicare, the Seniors’ Choice Act Non-partisan experts have warned the current Medicare program is facing insolvency due to unsustainable growth, and the Seniors’ Choice Act would fix its shortcomings
PoliticalNews.me - Feb 17,2012 - Coburn, Burr Unveil Plan to Save Medicare, the Seniors’ Choice Act
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) and Richard Burr (R-NC) unveiled the Seniors’ Choice Act, a legislative proposal to help America’s seniors by building a stronger, more sustainable Medicare program through immediate and longer-term reforms, many rooted in long-standing, bipartisan ideas.
Non-partisan experts have warned the current Medicare program is facing insolvency due to unsustainable growth, and the Seniors’ Choice Act would fix its shortcomings so that it remains a viable option for seniors participating in the program now and for future enrollees.
“Right now, the American people have little faith in Congress’ ability to do anything to fix the problems facing our nation, and with good reason. But let’s prove them wrong. The Medicare program is broken and we have an obligation and an opportunity to fix it,” Dr. Coburn said.
“Seniors and future retirees across the country are waking up to the reality of Medicare’s brokenness. With insolvency predicted to hit as soon as 2016, and with budget experts warning that Medicare represents the nation’s single largest fiscal challenge, Americans are right to be concerned. What we are proposing is the catalyst needed to strengthen and save Medicare for our nation’s seniors and ensure the program will be there for future retirees,” said Coburn.
“We made a promise to our seniors that Medicare will be there when they need it most, but the program as it currently stands is broken. We have a moral obligation to our parents, children, and all Americans to take steps now to save Medicare. The Medicare program in its current form is unsustainable, and we have an obligation and opportunity to improve it for our nation’s seniors within the next few years,” Senator Burr said.
“Unfortunately, President Obama’s budget proposal promoted more of the same – provider cuts that will only jeopardize seniors’ access to care, rather than proposing reforms that will address the serious challenges facing the program for seniors today and in the future. We can reduce Medicare spending by putting patients first and implementing common-sense reforms that promote choice and competition, giving seniors the same kinds of choices that Members of Congress enjoy. Our patient-focused proposal is a better way to put Medicare on sustainable path and fulfill our promise to seniors today and in the future, and it will serve as a blueprint for legislative reform,” said Burr.
The Seniors’ Choice Act blends many of the short term Medicare reforms proposed by Senators Coburn and Lieberman (I-CT) with the longer-term reforms that build on ideas put forward by Alice Rivlin, former director of the independent Congressional Budget Office, and former Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), as well as the bipartisan Medicare Commission led by former Senator John Breaux (D-LA) and former Congressman Bill Thomas (R-CA). By incorporating thoughtful elements from these proposals into its framework, the Seniors’ Choice Act can help move the debate forward about how to craft Medicare reform to ensure the program remains
