Our Lives

I would like to share this letter that my dad received in the mail last week.  It is a letter from his Congressman, Mike Rogers, 8th District, MI concerning the current health care bill.  Please take the time to read the whole thing, and then think about your parents.  Think about yourself as you age, think about the power and controls we are giving the gov’t concerning our futures and ask yourself if you really think this is the answer.

Dear Albert McGrath

Like many Americans, I believe health care reform is a critical priority for our country.  Costs are too high and access to high-quality care is difficult for too many families.

But I also believe Congress shouldn’t pass health reform at the expense of our nation’s seniors.  At a time when you are facing skyrocketing prescription drug prices and higher Medicare premiums, reform proposals must protect and strengthen your health care benefits.  Unfortunately, some in Congress do not see it that way.

In order to fund new health coverate for the uninusred, the majority in Congress has Proposed cutting $400 billion from the Medicare program and increasing Medicare premiums.  As your Representative, I think you deserve to know the truth about H>R> 3200 - the 1017 page bill currently being fast-tracked through the House of Representatives.  This proposal could threaten senious’ access to critical services like prescription drug coverage, home health visits, rehabilitation facilities and nursing homes.

The bill’s most dangerous provision could reduce funding for the Medicare Advantage program, which provides high-quality benefits to 11 million seniors across the country.  According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), H.R. 3200 would cut Medicare Advantage by more than $150 billion, forcing almost two million seniors to lose access to their current plan.  Many of Michigan’s 300,000 seniors who rely on Medicare Advantage would be at risk of losing their benefits. 

Other cuts found in H.R. 3200 include $50 billion from home health services and $32 billion from skilled nursing facilities.  Hospice services would be cut by $10 billion, and access to rehabilitation centers would be limited by a five billion reduction in funding.  All told, this legislation would cut over $400 billion from critical Medicare programs.

In addition, CBO estimated that H.R. 3200 could force seniors to pay 20 percent more for their Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance.  To make matters worse, seniors would also be punished with a $29 billion increase in Part B. premiums.

Finally, the bill would create a new government board to determine which medical treatments are most cost effective.  Unfortunately, no limits would be placed on this board’s authority.  In order to cut costs, this board could force Medicare to only cover the cheapest services, possibly limiting access to lifesaving medical treatments.  I believe this proposal could give the federal government unprecedented authority over decisions made between seniors and their doctors.

Cutting Medicare benefits to cover the uninusred is not a solution.  I believe seniors deserve better.  That is why I am working every day to oppose these proposals and advocate for a real bipartisan reform to help solve the uninsured problem, lower prescription drug costs, protect your current Medicare benefits, and ensure you have access to the doctors and health providers of your choice.

As someone who could be directly imnpacted by cuts to Medicare services, your voice is needed in this debate.  I hope you will contact leaders in Washington, including our U.S. Senators, and let them know how you feel about this important issue.

You can email me through my website at www.mikerogers.house.gov or call my office toll-free at 877-333-6453 if you have questions or concerns.  Thank you for your attention to this important issue

Sincerely,
Mike Rogers
Member of Congress