Medicare
The Charge
John Gard’s television ad claims Congressman Kagen voted to cut Medicare benefits for seniors.
The Facts
Congressman Kagen never voted to cut Medicare benefits.
Congressman Kagen voted for a bill endorsed by the American Association of Retired People (AARP) and the American Medical Association (AMA) to increase the amount of money Medicare pays doctors to care for Medicare patients, and to improve the health care services available to seniors through Medicare.
[HR 3162 Roll Call 787 8/1/07]
Background
According to the AARP, under the Bush Administration Medicare has not been paying doctors enough to cover the cost of providing services to Medicare patients. As a result, many doctors can’t afford to see Medicare patients, and many seniors can’t go to the doctor of their choice.
While the Bush Administration was cutting the fees it paid doctors, it gave subsidies to private insurance companies to offer add-on insurance known as “Advantage plans.”
Congress proposed paying for increased reimbursements for doctors by cutting subsidies to private insurance companies. Under the spending rules Congress adopted last year, any new spending must be offset by cuts elsewhere.
The AARP says the bill Congressman Kagen voted for was good for Medicare, good for senior citizens, and good for the doctors who seniors rely on for their health care.
