Extremist And Inaccurate Rhetoric Diminishes Real Threat Facing U.S. Seniors

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 26 Aug 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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Expressing strong disapproval with the extreme rhetoric surrounding the health care reform debate over the August recess, the President and CEO of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) said seniors are being ill-served by the superficial level of discussion, and that the real threat to seniors - $32 billion in cuts to Medicare financed nursing home care included in the House health reform bill - is not receiving the attention merited on a policy basis.

"Seniors hoping to gain insight into the critical health reform debate are being treated to overheated rhetoric about our poor and elderly losing health care benefits when, instead, they should be hearing about the plan in the U.S. House of Representatives to cut $32 billion in seniors' Medicare financed nursing home care," said Bruce Yarwood, President and CEO of AHCA. "We believe seniors deserve to see more light than heat in the remaining two weeks of this critical August recess period, and we encourage public officials and citizens alike to focus on policy ideas - not negative sound bites that scare seniors and obscure the facts."

Yarwood said the $32 billion cuts to Medicare-financed nursing home care included in the House bill is in addition to $12 billion in cuts imposed in July by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). "These cuts are too deep, not sustainable, and beyond placing seniors' quality care at risk, would force caregiver layoffs and job cuts at a time Congress and the Obama Administration are attempting to stem the tide on rising state and national unemployment rates. These enormous Medicare cuts, which will place upwards of 50,000 key jobs in jeopardy, make no sense on a health or economic policy basis."

The AHCA President and CEO said Congress must stop and revise the proposals that contain further cuts for nursing home care. "Congress must consider the already deep Medicare cuts implemented, take into account the state Medicaid funding crises compounding the negative impact on seniors' care, and ensure that total funding for nursing home care remains adequate to protect caregiver jobs and preserve quality. These are the real issues facing seniors and our lawmakers."

Source
American Health Care Association

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