RMAC Points on Health Care Reform

The Rocky Mountain Action Coalition (RMAC) feels that retirees should be included during any deliberations Congress is considering on health care reform. All Americans should be provided a choice of affordable health care. Here are some examples of changes that should be made.

Catastrophic coverage should be provided to everyone, including those now on Medicare. This would sharply curtail bankruptcies due to large medical costs.

Medicare should be improved to fix the payment schedules for providers; doctors are abandoning Medicare patients due to low payments.

Medicare or company sponsored health care benefits retirees have earned should not be harmed and should not be taxed.

People between 50 and 64, who are laid off or forced to retire early should be allowed to buy into Medicare at a cost that does not burden the Medicare program.

Funding should be included in health care reform legislation to eliminate the “doughnut hole” in Medicare part D prescription drug plans. Fix Medicare D by passing H.R. 684/S.330, the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill. This bill allows Medicare to negotiate bulk discount drug prices directly with the drug manufacturers.

Pass existing bills that call for importation/re-importation of prescription drugs, competitive bidding by makers of prescription drugs and funding the FDA to reduce generic drug backlogs.

A Public Plan Option is the most cost efficient way to bring about cost savings. Include a public plan in any health care reform legislation.