AARP Works for Improvements in Medicare
By: State: New Jersey | Source: aarp.org
AARP, members of Congress and additional Congressional and Senatorial staff members joined together July 18 to celebrate the passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act at a conference at the AARP New Jersey State Office.
Congressmen Rush Holt (D-12) and Frank Pallone (D-6), Penny Pinsker of Senator Frank Lautenberg's office, and representatives from NJ Jersey Physicians and New Jersey Medical Society spoke at the event emceed by AARP New Jersey State President Sy Larson. AARP's Chief Legislative Advocate Marilyn Askin also spoke at the press conference.
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act was vetoed by President Bush, however, members of Congress from both sides of the aisle worked together to override the veto. This is only the third time that Congress has successfully overridden President Bush's veto of a bill.
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act will improve Medicare's low-income programs, boost health care quality with a system of national e-prescribing, and help ensure the access of patients to their doctors. The entire New Jersey delegation of Senators and Congress members unanimously voted in favor of this bill.
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-6) said the bill brought "long overdue improvements to Medicare. By overriding the President's veto, Congress enacted a new law that ensures Medicare continues to work for America's seniors, doctors and taxpayers."
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act protects and improves Medicare for the 44 million Americans who depend on it. AARP believes it is victory for our nation's often vulnerable citizens.
"This legislation helps stem some of the unreasonable increases in the Part B premiums we have witnessed in recent years and improves low-income protections by raising the asset limits in Medicare Savings Program."
Though he was not able to attend the press conference, Congress member Frank LoBiondo (R-2) stressed the importance of the act and expressed his gratitude for AARP's work on this bill through a written statement.
"We recently scored a major victory for New Jersey seniors!" said LoBiondo. "Over the President's objections, I proudly joined with my colleagues to halt a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements for our doctors. To me, this issue was simple: we must be fair to our doctors while ensuring access to quality healthcare for our seniors. I applaud AARP, the American Medical Association, and South Jersey's physicians for their tireless work on this critical issue that affects our seniors and their quality of life."
Since April, over 1,200,000 messages have been sent to the White House and Congress through AARP's campaign "Keep Medicare Fair." While not the sole reason for the passage of this important bill, AARP believes that these messages influenced some Congress members' votes.
"AARP thanks our grassroots volunteers and activists for all their messages sent over the last 3 months," said Larson. "AARP also thanks the entire New Jersey delegation for their solidarity and for showing our Garden State residents how powerful bipartisanship can be."
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