July 10, 2008

As you have probably now heard, the US Senate broke the filibuster yesterday afternoon on the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331) by a vote of 69-30, sending the bill to the President with veto-proof majorities from both houses!  Bill Novelli, AARP's Chief Executive Officer, issued the following statement on the vote:

"They say that life doesn't give you second chances. The Senate got a big one this week, and AARP applauds the bipartisan majority of Senators who voted to pass a bill that would protect and improve Medicare for the 44 million Americans who depend on it. This bill would allow people in Medicare to maintain access to their doctors, improve benefits for low-income, prevention, and mental health programs, and boost quality through national e-prescribing.

"Today's vote - which came less than two weeks after a similar effort fell one vote short - mirrored the broad support with which the House of Representatives earlier passed this bill. This shows what can happen when leaders in Washington break through partisan gridlock.

"We hope the President recognizes the overwhelming bipartisan support that passed this bill in both chambers of Congress and signs it into law."

The bill includes the following provisions: 

·        Improves Low-Income Protections: Raises the asset limits in Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) that cover Part B premiums for those with incomes below 135 percent of the federal poverty limit ($14,040 for an individual in 2008). These asset limits have not changed in over 20 years and are penalizing older Americans who, despite limited incomes, did the right thing of saving a small nest egg for retirement. It also streamlines the application process for the Part D Low-income Subsidy (LIS) and improves coordination between the LIS program and MSPs.

·        Electronic Prescribing: Lays the groundwork for broader improvements in the health care system by requiring that physicians begin now to use electronic prescribing, which would improve safety and reduce costs.

·        Part B Premiums: Helps to stem some of the unreasonable increases in the Part B premium we have witnessed in recent years; since 2000 the premium has more than doubled, far outpacing increases in Social Security cost of living adjustments.

·        Improves Prevention Coverage: The bill expands Medicare's coverage for preventive services. 

·        MA Marketing Improvements: The bill helps to protect beneficiaries from unscrupulous marketing tactics.

·        Restores Parity for Mental Health Services: The legislation also restores the coinsurance for Medicare's coverage of mental health services to the standard 20 percent.

Below you can see how the vote came out.  Special thanks to Senator Salazar for his yes vote!

Alphabetical by Senator Name

Kelli Fritts

Demand action and answers on health care and lifetime financial security.  

Go to www.DividedWeFail.org