Largest care player in the american, a huge growing federal entitlement. And a little more than ten years, medicare will increase in enrollment from 65 million to nearly 80 million enrollees and total Program Spending will double today, roughly. Its 1 trillion. And within ten years it will be nearly 2 trillion. At the same time, medicare is changing. Today, half of all seniors are enrolled in Medicare Advantage or a system of private coverage, which is the alternative to traditional medicare. And Medicare Advantage is a defined contribution. And what that means is, is that the government makes a contribution on behalf of a beneficiary to the beneficiary chosen plan. Given current trends, Medicare Advantage will soon be the dominant form of medicare. The question before the house and before the nation is a very, very big one. That is, how do we provide high quality medical care to a huge and, rapidly growing older population, often at a cost that is affordable not only to seniors, but a
Right from the start, mr. Chairman, the nature of this amendment and the nature of this amendment is to try to follow the advice of just about every witness who testified in this room back in september about how to stabilize the exchanges. Everybody said among the three things we should do, make clear that the costsharing reductions offsit the cost of copays, deductibles, make it clear theyre not going away for at least two years. That was one thing they said theyd do. Number two, they said put in place a Reinsurance Program for highly expensive, very expensive patient care for particular patients. And number three, they said that we should retain the individual mandate and if we decide not to replace it with something thats just as effective in getting a good mix of young and healthy pool to be part of the insurance pool within the exchanges across the country. The legislation before us apparently repeals or proposes to repeal the individual mandate. So that would if that actually hap
33, corporate amendment 17. I will make a clear from the start nature of this amendment is to try to follow the advice about every witness who testified in this room back in september about how to stabilize that exchanges. Everyones said we should make clear that the cost sharing reduction which would set the cost of copays and adaptable, make it clear they are going away for at least two years. Number two they said put in place a Reinsurance Program for highly expensive patient care particular patients. Number three, they said we should retain in the individual mandate if we decide not to replace it with something thats as effective in getting a good mix of young and Healthy People to be part of the insurance pool within the exchanges. The legislation before as a purely repeals or proposes to repeal the individual mandate. That would leave us with costsharing reduction and no reinsurance. Instead of a three legged stool which is what was called for by governors, insurance commissioner
We know you are only two weeks into this job, but we expect you to know everything. We are still reviewing the effects of the recent reforms in the budget caps adjustments that were included in last weeks bipartisan budget act and we look forward to your testimony. Over the past year our committee has been working to improve, strengthen and streamline health care and welfare programs under our jurisdiction. In health care we have taken action to cut needless red tape. It makes it more difficult for providers to deliver high quality care to their patients. We recently advanced targeted bipartisan reforms to improve medicare for the American People, continuing the drive to strengthen quality and care coordination. Our committee played a firsthand role in developing legislation repeal and replace the Affordable Care act. With the American Health care act that was passed by the house last may, we delivered market Oriented Solutions that would truly increase flexibility, reduce costs and re
The chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to one hour and each member other than the majority and minority leaders and the minority whip limited to five minutes, but in no event shall debate continue beyond 11 50 a. M. The chair recognizes the gentleman from the gentleman from oregon, mr. Blumenauer for five minutes. Mr. Blumenauer thank you, mr. Speaker. One of the most difficult and challenging situation any family faces is dealing with circumstances surrounding the end of life. Earlier this week, n. P. R. Ran a fascinating story on a little known fact that physicians die differently than the rest of us. They are more comfortable, theyre more likely to spend their final days surrounded by loved ones. They seldom die in an i. C. U. Or in a hospital setting. Thats because doctors understand what works and what doesnt. Doctors are very clear about their wishes, and they choose quality of life and concern for their families as well as their own well