Feingold Pushes For Wisconsin’s Fair Share of Medicare Dollars Senator Outlines Medicare Proposal During Local Listening Session   April 24, 2003 Weston, WI - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today discussed his legislative proposal to help Wisconsin get its fair share of Medicare dollars by reforming the Medicare reimbursement system. Feingold's legislation will reduce regional inequities in Medicare spending and reward, rather than punish, states like Wisconsin that deliver high-quality, cost-effective Medicare services. "The distribution of Medicare dollars among the 50 states is grossly unfair to Wisconsin, and much of the Upper Midwest," Feingold said. "Wisconsinites pay payroll taxes just like every American worker, but we get back much less in Medicare funds than do many other states.” Wisconsin seniors receive a narrower range of health care services than Medicare recipients in most other states as a result of the unfair reimbursement rate. For instance, Medicare beneficiaries in many other areas can choose between an HMO or traditional fee-for-service Medicare, a choice many Wisconsinites do not have. "To give an idea of how inequitable the distribution of Medicare dollars is, imagine identical twins over the age of 65," Feingold explained. "The twins have worked at the same company and received the same salary and paid the same taxes. But if one twin retired to New Orleans, Louisiana, and the other retired in Wisconsin, they would have vastly different health care options under Medicare. The twin in Louisiana would get much more." Feingold's legislative proposal would reduce the inequities in Medicare payments to Wisconsin's hospitals, physicians, and skilled nursing facilities. It also would establish pilot programs to encourage high-quality, cost-effective Medicare practices. Feingold held his 32nd Listening Session of 2003, and his 752nd since he was first elected, at the Weston Village Hall, starting at 11:00 a.m. This is Feingold’s eleventh year of holding Listening Sessions in every county.

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