Rob Portman Statement on President Obama's Telephone Townhall with Seniors On Government's New HealthCare Law

Statement

U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman issued the following statement today regarding President Obama's telephone townhall with senior citizens today.

"The new healthcare law creates a costly new entitlement program that increases the record deficit while raising taxes and reducing Medicare funding to the detriment of our seniors. In fact, many seniors will lose the choice and freedom offered by Medicare programs. Instead of robbing from Medicare to create a new entitlement, Medicare itself must be made solvent so that it remains strong and available to our seniors.

"The overriding concern of Americans is the cost of health care, yet under the new health care law costs will go up for seniors and others who are already struggling to make ends meet. while I commend the President for speaking directly with seniors, I hope that he will tell them how he intends to address the cost increases in health care and the harmful changes to Medicare."

NOTE: There are about 1.6 million Ohio seniors who participate in Medicare Advantage who will lose their choice and freedoms provided by this program under the Democrats' healthcare bill.

ObamaCare's "Drastic Payment Cuts" Force Insurance Providers To Cut Benedits.
"Consultants cite two reasons for the cuts. The rate the government will pay private insurers to run the plans is frozen for 2011 at 2010 levels, while medical costs are expected to increase an average of at least 6%. Such price increases and benefit cuts will help them recoup that difference, the consultants say. Meanwhile, the health overhaul will impose drastic payment cuts to insurers that run the plans, and consultants say insurance companies need to begin adapting now. Starting in 2012, the law calls for a gradual reduction in government payments to insurers, totaling $136 billion before the end of the decade." (Janet Adamy, "HHS Warns Medicare Insurers on Rates," The Wall Street Journal, 6/7/10)

And Increase Costs and Benefits Cuts.
"Many insurance companies are planning to increase costs for a range of services for seniors next year, according to consultants who have helped prepare their bids. Dozen of Medicare Advantage providers plan to cut back vision, dental and prescription benefits. Some plans are eliminating free teeth cleanings and gym memberships, and raising fees for hearing aides, eye glasses and emergency-room visits."(Janet Adamy, "HHS Warns Medicare Insurers On Rates." The Wall Street Journal, 6/7/10)

ObamaCare's Medicare Cuts Will Leave Seniors With "Higher Out-Of-Pocket Costs."
"The report's most sober assessments concerned Medicare. In addition to flagging provider cuts as potentially unsustainable, the report projected that reductions in payments to private Medicare Advantage plans would trigger an exodus from the popular alternative...Seniors leaving the private plans would still have health insurance under traditional Medicare, but many might face higher out-of-pocket costs." (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, "Report Says Health Care Will Cover More, Cost More," The Associated Press, 4/23/10)

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Warns ObamaCare Will Cause A Doctor Shortage of "Up To 125,000 Doctors By 2025."
"Stories of emergency rooms pushed to capacity and wait times at physicians' offices have become legendary. Now the passage of healthcare reform -- potentially funneling 30 million new people into an already-packed system -- has some groups warning that the nation will soon see a shortage of doctors. The Assn. of American Medical Colleges has warned of a deficiency of up to 125,000 doctors by 2025... The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates the need for almost 149,000 extra doctors by that year." (Tammy Worth, "Agencies Warn Of Coming Doctor Shortage," The Los Angeles Times, 6/7/10)

The Shortage Will Hurt Seniors Because They "Require Two To Three Times" More Medical Services Than Most Other Adults, Need Specialists Like Cardiologists."
"'This will be the first time since the 1930s that the ratio of physicians to the population will start to decline,' Said Dr. Atul Grover. chief advocacy officer for the AAMC.'The number of people over 65 will double between 2000 and 2030. and the amount of medical services they require is two to three times higher than many other adults.' Not only will these individuals seek preventive care, but they will need specialists -- cardiologists, urologists, endocrinologists, and more -- to deal with issues such as heart disease. diabetes, and respiratory problems, Grover said." (Tammy Worth, "Agencies Warn Of Coming Doctor Shortage," The Los Angeles Times, 6/7/10)

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