Rep. Boehner Still Pushing False Talking Points To Frighten Seniors Into Opposing Health Care Reform

Rep. Boehner Is Wrong About How Democratic Health Care Reform Will Affect Senior Citizens

Rep. John Boehner (R-OH):

"Right now, America's seniors are looking for reassurances that their current coverage won't be hurt by a government takeover of health care, and Washington Democrats are unable to oblige. That's because their trillion-dollar, 1,000-page plans would leave seniors with reduced benefits and fewer health care choices. Republicans are committed to ensuring America's seniors know the facts while offering better solutions to make their coverage more affordable and accessible." [Boehner.House.gov, 10/26/09]

Democratic proposals for health care reform will make Medicare even more efficient and cost effective while not cutting benefits, thus increasing the already positive experience seniors report having with Medicare.

"None Of The 'Savings' Or 'Cuts' (Whichever You Prefer) Come From Reducing Current Or Future Benefit Levels For Seniors." According to FactCheck.org, "The House bill would trim projected increases in payments for hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and others, including home health care providers and suppliers of motor-driven wheelchairs. But it also proposes what CBO estimates is a $245 billion increase in spending for doctors, by canceling a scheduled 21 percent cut in physician payments. None of the 'savings' or 'cuts' (whichever you prefer) come from reducing current or future benefit levels for seniors." [FactCheck.org, accessed 9/9/09]

CBO: Cost Changes To Medicare Made From Savings. According to the CBO letter to Senator Baucus: "Changes to the Medicare program and changes to Medicaid and CHIP other than those associated directly with expanded insurance coverage:  Savings from those provisions are estimated to total $93 billion in 2019, and CBO projects that, in combination, they will increase by 10 percent to 15 percent per year in the next decade." [CBO.gov, 10/7/09]

Reform Legislation Will Allow A 5% Medicare Payment Increase For Primary Care Services To Some Physicians.  According to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of HR 3200, among other changes to the Medicare payment structure, the legislation "provides for a 5% payment bonus, effective January 1, 2011, for evaluation and management services and other services associated with ensuring accessible, continuous, coordinated, and comprehensive care when provided by a physician or other practitioner who specializes in family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics or geriatrics." [KFF.org, 8/6/09]