Published: November 16, 2009 10:12 pm      

Study: Health care reform could threaten Medicare coverage

Rep. Hill maintains bill would strengthen system

Rep. Baron Hill stayed his position Monday that Medicare coverage would not be damaged by health care reform, despite the release of a study suggesting hospitals might quit accepting the government plan’s patients.

The analysis — performed by Richard S. Foster of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services — was requested by House Republicans and released Saturday.

The debate surrounds where the $500 billion Medicare spending cut proposed in the House bill would come from. The spending reductions in the package could make it too expensive for health providers to take on Medicare patients, the study states.

Proponents of the bill tout ridding Medicare of waste and fraud will account for the $500 billions cut that will help fund the health care reform bill passed by the house that has yet to be weighed by the Senate.

Hill released a statement Friday accusing groups of spreading false statements about the legislation’s impact on Medicare. Through spokeswoman Katie Moreau, Hill maintained Monday the plan will strengthen Medicare benefits, citing the endorsement by AARP and the American Medical Association.

Moreau said the measure protects Medicare patients by closing the “doughnut hole” for prescription drug reimbursement, ensuring free preventative care, eliminating copayments and improving low-income subsidy programs.

“In addition, House Resolution 3962 would extend the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund by five years, to help ensure Medicare can cover every American as they get older,” Moreau said.

She referred to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services study as being “just one report,” though Republicans see it otherwise.

One source of controversy created by the study was the $289 billion in increased health care costs it suggested the system would incur if the reform passes the Senate.

“The only one being disingenuous here is Baron Hill,” said Tom Erickson, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “Not only could this bill jeopardize Medicare patients’ access to health care, but it will actually increase the cost of health care by nearly $300 billion over the next 10 years.”

Democrats excuse the expense by saying the reform would cover about 10 percent more of the country’s population with an increase of 1.3 percent of national health costs.