Dr. Lee Rogers released the following statement in response to Congressman Howard "Buck" McKeon's town hall meeting on Medicare:
"Right now Congressman McKeon is addressing local seniors at the Santa Clarita Senior Center about Medicare. Let's hope he's apologizing for voting multiple times to end Medicare as we know it. Those are strong words, but they're true. McKeon supports a plan to replace automatic enrollment in Medicare at age 65 with a voucher that forces seniors into the private market at the mercy of private insurers. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the plan McKeon voted for would cause seniors to spend $6,400 more per year out of pocket on their health care. Nearly half of America's seniors live on less than $18,000 per year. We can't expect seniors to be able to afford this drastic change. The reason why we started Medicare was because private insurers were taking advantage of seniors. McKeon talks about death panels, but there would be no greater death panel than a private insurer throwing up roadblocks and delays for seniors' health care. Medicare doesn't do this.
"McKeon criticizes the Affordable Care Act for reducing Medicare costs by $716 billion over 10 years. But there are absolutely no cuts to seniors' benefits. McKeon's criticism is disingenuous because the plan he voted for called for many of the same reductions. Much of these savings would come from reducing overpayments to private insurers participating in the Medicare Advantage program. Taxpayers spend about 14% more for health services when they are covered by Medicare Advantage, as opposed to traditional Medicare. McKeon supports a plan that restores these overpayments to insurers.
"The difference is that President Obama's plan uses the savings to strengthen Medicare by closing the prescription drug donut hole and waiving co-payments for preventative services, like mammograms. The plan McKeon supports would increase costs to current seniors immediately by making them pay more for their medications and restore co-payments for preventative services. That's not a change for people younger than 55, that's an increased cost for beneficiaries now.
"I'm a doctor. A majority of my patients are on Medicare. I know what it's like to suffer, waiting for private insurers to authorize services. Medicare provides needed health care to seniors who don't have time to wait. Budgets have a lot of numbers and are confusing, but they represent priorities. McKeon's votes indicate his priorities are to give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires while seniors pay more for their health care. Instead, I will prioritize our seniors, by keeping their costs low and strengthening Medicare by reducing waste. Supporting Medicare is not a partisan issue. I call on Representative McKeon to denounce the Romney-Ryan plan to dismantle Medicare just like his Republican colleague, Congressional candidate Tony Strickland, has done in the neighboring Ventura County district."
Dr. Lee Rogers is a candidate for US Congress challenging incumbent Rep. Buck McKeon. Dr. Rogers is a nationally-known podiatrist for his work on health policy to prevent amputations in diabetes. He lives in Simi Valley with his wife and two daughters. For more information visit www.LeeRogers2012.com.