Kerry LTTE: Senate has walked the walk on Medicare - response to claim that only Ryan had a plan

[karynnj]

Kerry LTTE corrects the Boston Globe's inference that only Ryan had a Medicare plan

YOUR APRIL 6 editorial “Ryan’s Medicare plan is unfair — but at least he has one’’ ignored the fact that the Senate already walked the walk, casting tough votes to extend the life of Medicare. The Affordable Care Act strengthened Medicare by extending the solvency of the trust fund from 2017 to 2029, the largest extension in history. It produced more than $500 billion in savings over the next decade, reduced drug costs for seniors, and provided free preventive services to reduce costly care later.

We saved Medicare billions by eliminating wasteful overpayments while reducing beneficiary premiums. We did it without cutting a single benefit and by strengthening access to primary care.

We’re testing the most promising models of payment reform that reward the quality of care delivered instead of the quantity of tests ordered and services performed.

More difficult decisions remain to tackle deficits and revive Clinton-era balanced budgets. But that too will require both political parties putting the next generation ahead of the next election.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2011/04/07/senate_has_walked_the_walk_on_medicare_reform/

Ryan's Medicare plan needs to be countered.

[karynnj]

1. As Medicare is solvent until 2029, there is no justification to make the Ryan changes

Like SS, which is solvent even further into the future, Medicare is funded by its own payroll taxes. It is unethical to take the money from Medicare - that was paid by people expecting to receive it - to fund extending the Bush tax custs another 10 years - which Ryan's bill does.