Carol Shea-Porter and the Medicare Donut Holeby: Dean BarkerWed Jul 14, 2010 at 08:42:44 AM EDT |
A little more than a month ago, this happened:
If you're on Medicare, the federal health program for people 65 and older and the disabled, and you've fallen into the prescription-drug coverage gap known as the doughnut hole this year, the U.S. government is putting a $250 check in the mail for you starting Thursday. You don't have to apply for your check because Medicare tracks your drug costs. The agency will send you your $250 check automatically as soon as you reach the coverage gap this year, experts from AARP said during a conference call Tuesday.Can you hear it? That's the sound of Bush's deficit-laden Medicare Part D donut hole being filled. And it doesn't end there with that quick fix. The new deficit-reducing health care reform bill slowly fills that hole so that seniors don't get dumped into the political ploy W. pushed on them back in the day. The closing of the Medicare Part D donut hole is a major achievement brought to you by the Democratic party, over unbending opposition from Republicans. But what you may not know is the the critical role Carol Shea-Porter played in this aspect of the health care bill. Back in December, she was leading the charge: And when the Senate was threatening to water down the closing of the donut hole, Carol Shea-Porter stood firm. January: While we applaud the Senate's efforts to shrink the donut hole in 2010, it would not be completely eliminated. The House language provides for similar immediate relief, but continues to make additional progress in the following years until the coverage gap is fully closed in 2019. Efforts to partially alleviate the financial burden caused by the gap are important, but they must be accompanied by a long-term approach that provides for the complete elimination of the donut hole. The House-passed language achieves precisely that. Others may disagree, and they are many hands that went into this critical piece of the health reform bill, but I consider Shea-Porter's leadership on this to be her signature achievement in her time in congress so far. She never backed down, and as a result we have a deficit-reducing bill that makes will significantly improve the lives of seniors. It's CSP Week on BH. Learn more here about it. Get involved, and give what you can. |