Washington, D.C. – A report released last night by the official budget scorekeepers at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) warns that the Reid health care bill would drive up health insurance premiums, increase total health spending and jeopardize access to care for seniors on Medicare.
“The experts tell us that the Reid bill would drive up costs and hurt seniors on Medicare,” said U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. “Higher costs and cuts to Medicare are not the reforms the American people want and need. How many more devastating studies do we need before the Democratic leadership will agree we need to scrap these flawed bills and start over?”
The report from the chief actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) concluded that the Reid bill would increase total health care spending, undercutting claims that health care reform would reduce national health spending. The report found that the new taxes on drugs, devices and insurance plans in the Reid bill would increase health insurance premiums for consumers.
As a result of Medicare payment cuts in the bill, the report also finds that many physicians, hospitals and other providers would stop treating Medicare patients, leaving many seniors without the care they need. The bill’s cuts to the Medicare Advantage program would result in reduced benefits for seniors.
