RMAC/Health Care Committee Meeting Report Dec 4^th, 2009

Attendees

John Kotson; IBM Retiree, RMAC Chairman

Ed Bettinardi; Johns Manville Retiree, Health Care Committee Chairman

Hazel Floyd; AUSWR Regional VP, Health Care Committee Member

Barbara Wilcox; AUSWR CO/WY Health Care Specialist, Committee Member

Joe Halpern; AUSWR Member, District AARP Representative

Helen Domaratz; IBM Retiree, RMAC Member

Pat Finley; AUSWR Member, RMAC Member

Darrell Coble; HP Retiree, RMAC Member

John Romelfanger; AUSWR Retiree, RMAC Member

Betty Sweeney; Community Liaison Staffer for Senator Michael Bennet

Jonathan Royal; Community Organizer for “Change that Works” Organization

National

Betty Sweeney Presentation—Senator Bennet recently offered an amendment to the Senate health care reform bill that would guarantee that Medicare benefits would not be cut. The amendment passed the Senate unanimously.

On Medicare, Betty stated that she does not see Medicare catastrophic coverage being addressed for some time. Joe Halpern added that some people in Congress remember fighting for it in 1987. They had to repeal it a year later due to criticism from retirees and they still have a bitter taste from it. The feeling is that if the health care bill passes in its current form, it will cap out-of-pocket costs for everyone under 65 and Medicare will follow suit within a few years. Betty agrees; it will be hard enough to pass the current bill with 60 votes being required at each step, so it is not likely to add something like Medicare catastrophic coverage. Betty has talked to Senator Bennet about it and his position is it must be deficit neutral, e.g. like CBO Option 81.

Senator Bennet is now a member of the Senate Health, Education, Pension and Labor (HELP) committee; he replaced Senator Edward Kennedy. He serves on the Agriculture, Banking and Aging committees, in addition to HELP.

Betty was quizzed on the provision that members of Congress and their employees must purchase their insurance from one of the health care exchanges. She feels this provision will survive through the House/Senate conference committee; it would create too much press if it was taken out. No one knows how much their insurance will be subsidized. Pat Finley questioned the tax on so called “Cadillac” plans. Betty answered; the tax will be levied on the amount the employer pays, premiums only, with exemptions for “wellness” programs.

Other issues discussed:

1. Post Retirement Benefits; employers cannot reduce health care benefits for retirees unless they also reduce them for employees.
2. Anti-trust Exemptions; both bills remove the anti-trust exemptions for health care insurers and medical malpractice insurers.
3. Catastrophic care is provided to Native Americans but not to seniors.
4. Independent Medical Advisory Board is provided in the senate bill but not the house bill.

AARP—Joe Halpern reported that AARP is taking a lot of heat for their support of the health care legislation, but they are holding fast. Joe was not aware if the 2010 AARP platform was out yet or if it contained Medicare catastrophic coverage.

Colorado/Wyoming

Description of “Change that Works” organization by Jonathan Royal, Community Organizer—Goal is to build a “grass roots” organization that supports the strongest progressive bill in Congress. They are a strong supporter of the “Public Option” in health care reform. Their organization has offices in Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins and they are active in 11 swing states with 9-10 organizers in each state.

Currently, “Change that Works” is conducting an “Ambulance” tour in several cities in Colorado. They want people to come out and write down their health care experiences. The objective is to attract press coverage. Jonathan needed a speaker for “senior perspectives” for the Longmont stop. John Kotson and Barbara Wilcox volunteered to attend.

Interface with other Health Care Reform Groups—Joe Halpern attended “Colorado Voices for Coverage” seminar, sponsored by several groups, including CCHI (Colorado Consumer Health Initiative) of which he is a member. It was an excellent all day session, with several speakers, including one from Boston talking about the Massachusetts health care system. The focus of the meeting was on Colorado’s problems; several state legislators were in attendance. The situation is bleak in Colorado with a 5.7% cut in state Medicaid payments. There is a $15 million supplemental fund that hasn’t been used because doctors are not taking new Medicaid patients.

The question was raised of whether RMAC should affiliate with CCHI. Joe will try to have a member at our next RMAC meeting.

Joe also attended a Colorado Senior Lobby meeting. He commented they were very disorganized.

Health Care for All Colorado (HCAC)—John Kotson tried to get a volunteer to attend their annual kick-off meeting, but was unsuccessful.

Interface with Colorado/Wyoming Congressional Representatives

Senator Mike Enzi; Hazel has contacted office several times, still no feedback from Katy Barr on Medicare catastrophic coverage.

Congresswoman Dianna DeGette; Hazel has also contacted her office several times. DeGette’s staff person, Andrea Autobee, has been invited to RMAC meetings many times, but does not respond.

Congresswoman Betsy Markey; John Kotson published another letter to the editor of the Fort Collins Coloradoan criticizing her vote on health care reform. “Change that Works” sent her, her own campaign post card after her “no” vote on health care reform. Discussion among RMAC members concluded that no one would support her bid for re-election.

Congressman Jared Polis; Helen Domaratz and John Romelfanger reported that Polis attended their last Senior Advisory Board meeting and also the last Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) meeting. Helen tried to talk to Polis about Medicare catastrophic coverage again. Polis was not persuaded, stating “this bill is not a Medicare bill. He is ready to move on to education now.

Helen stated they are seeking more members for the Senior Advisory Board. There were 10 when they first started, but attendance has dropped to 5 or 6. Helen and John will keep attending. John Rommelfanger talked to “Organizing for America” about joining Polis’s board. They seemed to fit in.

Congressman Ed Perlmutter; Pat Finley has had no contact with their office; they are closed down for now. Hazel invited Jerry Pifer to our meeting but did not receive a reply.

Other

Hazel Floyd stated that John and Darla Icabone, Qwest retirees, wrote to both Colorado Senators and got replies from both which were forwarded to RMAC members. Udall doesn’t seem to be doing anything or have a staffer interested in attending our meetings.

Hazel also received an E-mail from “Democracy for America” speaking about phone companies supporting politicians that don’t support health care reform.

There was a discussion about Mike Kotson being unable to continue servicing the RMAC website. Helen Domaratz and Pat Finley volunteered to learn how to update the website. John Kotson will put them in contact with Mike.

The next RMAC/Health care Committee meeting will be held on January 22^nd, 2010. A hearty thanks to all that took the time to attend the meeting and have a great holiday season.

John Kotson