Administration Officials Tout New Report On Status Of Medicare

The Democrats’ sweeping healthcare reform law will extend the life of the Medicare hospital insurance fund by 12 years, according to a new government report on the status of Medicare and Social Security.

According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, the nation’s Medicare trust fund should stay solvent until 2029. In addition, the healthcare overhaul, passed earlier this year, improves the long-term outlook for the Social Security trust fund, which analysts previously warned will be depleted by 2037. In 2010, Social Security expenditures will exceed receipts for the first time in more than 25 years.

While the short-term prognosis for the two big entitlements is slightly troublesome, Geithner said the Medicare figures are encouraging.

“These are very, very substantial improvements,” he said during a briefing on Thursday.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius added that the “outlook for Medicare has improved greatly,” as a result of the new healthcare law.

Sebelius, however, said that Congress must work on finding a permanent solution to the way in which physicians that accept Medicare are reimbursed by the federal government. Congress recently extended the “doc-fix” as it is known, but officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have concluded that continued temporary fixes will in the long run negate some of the savings produced by the Affordable Care Act.

Lawmakers Give Healthcare Reform Mixed Reviews During Hospital Association Conference

By Chingyu Wang
Talk Radio News Service

While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) thanked members of the American Hospital Association (AHA) during its their annual conference Tuesday for supporting the Democratic health care reform bill, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) reminded the audience that "you and I found ourselves on a different page."

The AHA, a national organization formed by almost 5,000 hospitals and medical care providers and 37,000 individual members, displayed packets during the conference that praised the new health care reform law for expanding health coverage to an estimated 32 million Americans in the next ten years.

Citing a new report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Cornyn told members of the audience that health care costs will rise to $311 billion by the year 2020, and said his "biggest disappointment" with the law is that it will worsen America's long term fiscal situation.

Pelosi, on the other hand, said hospitals stand to benefit the most from the new law due to "32 million patients [having] an insurance card...fewer uncompensated emergency room visits...[and] reduced costs and improving care."

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who followed the Speaker, discussed the case of Well Point Inc. attempting to decline health coverage to breast cancer patients, and called on the AHA to help discourage such "illegal" behavior on the part of insurance companies.

Secretary Sebelius Dismisses Legal Challenges To Health Care Reform

By Chingyu Wang-Talk Radio News Service

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Tuesday dismissed the legal challenges against the recently passed health care reform law.

"We are confident that the legal standing of the law is solid and this has more to do with politics and policy," said Sebelius during an appearance at the National Press Club. "Our job is to really focus on talking to American people about what really is in the bill, how the law will work to their benefits, what's available for them and that's where we are going to spend our time and energy."

Attorneys general from 14 states have filed lawsuits against the new law on the basis that a mandate requiring individual's to purchase insurance violates the constitution.

Sebelius noted that she believes there is significant political motivation for the 14 attorney generals.

"I think that the vast majority of lawsuits have been filed by attorney generals in states where they have also some interest in higher office," said Sebelius.

Sebelius And Insurance Industry Head Clash Over Health Care Reform

By Chingyu Wang-Talk Radio News Service

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) CEO Karen Ignagni offered back to back remarks Wednesday that highlighted the vast differences between how the Obama administration and the insurance industry are viewing the current attempt to reform the U.S. health care system.

Sebelius, who appeared at AHIP's annual conference, suggested that funds used by AHIP for attack ads could be better spent on lowering coverage costs.

"I am hopeful that you can take the assets that you have and the influence ... and use it to start calling for comprehensive reform to pass," said Sebelius. "Instead of spending energy attacking the parts of the proposal that you don't like, come to the table."

Ignagni held a press conference immediately after and took the opportunity to raise concerns that AHIP continues to have with the legislation proposed by Democrats.

"We are committed to bringing everyone into the [health care] system," said Ignagni. "The problem that we have with the current legislation is that we are very concerned that it will make health care more expensive, not more affordable."

Added the CEO, "We have offered very specific proposals [to ensure affordability,]" said Ignagni. "We believe that the legislation needs to be fixed in that area; that it still can be fixed."

Sebelius argued that attacking the Democrat's proposal is a "short-term strategy."

"You can continue the opposition to reform and if you do, and reform fails, I can give you a pretty good prediction of what happens next," Sebelius said. "By next March, premiums will take even a bigger bite out of American's wages, your market will shrink even further [and] more Americans will lose their employer-sponsored insurance."

HHS Giving Non-Profits $10 Million To Help Curb Obesity And Tobacco Use

By Chingyu Wang
Talk Radio News Service

On Friday, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius outlined details of a $10 million grant for non-profit organizations to prevent and control obesity and tobacco use.

In a conference call with reporters, Sebelius presented data showing that in 2007 and 2008, two-thirds of Americans ages 20-74 were either overweight or obese, and that smoking and second-hand smoke remain the number one causes of preventable death in the U.S.

"More than eight million Americans suffer from smoking-related chronic illnesses," Sebelius added.

Sebelius said the Recovery Act funded the Prevention and Wellness Initiative to the tune of $650 million one year ago, adding that HHS has currently developed a new initiative -- Community Putting Prevention to Work -- which focuses on reducing chronic decease and promoting wellness.

The new grant comes on the heels of the launch of First Lady Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign, aimed at preventing childhood obesity.