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| Wilson Hails 40th Anniversary of Medicare |
July 30, 2005 |
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| Medicare, Medicaid Programs Provide Coverage for Nearly Half of All New Mexicans
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today expressed support for the Medicare and Medicaid programs on their 40th Anniversary.
“Medicare and Medicaid have provided health care for millions of seniors and low-income Americans,” said Wilson. “Yet Medicaid is in need of significant reforms that focus on improving the health of beneficiaries instead of just paying claims.”
Medicare covers about 250,000 seniors in New Mexico, and Medicaid covers about 416,000 low-income children, pregnant women, and disabled New Mexicans.
Wilson supported the Medicare Modernization Act in 2003, legislation that added prescription drug coverage in Medicare and made other important improvements. Seniors can get prescription drug coverage beginning January 2006, and can sign up beginning on November 15. Extra help is available for seniors of limited means, and about 100,000 seniors in New Mexico will qualify for additional assistance with the cost of their medications. The Social Security Administration is currently sending applications to people identified as potentially qualifying for extra help.
“I would encourage every senior who thinks they may qualify for extra help to apply,” said Wilson. “The benefit is particularly generous for seniors of limited means, with costs as low as $1 for generics and $3 for brand-name drugs. Seniors should fill out the application right away or call 1-800-MEDICARE or go to www.medicare.gov if they don’t receive one.”
Medicare and Medicaid pay claims for services regardless of their quality or effectiveness. Wilson believes reform should focus on improving health outcomes, measuring quality, adopting health information technology, and providing incentives rewarding high quality care and discouraging care of poor quality.
Wilson chaired the House Medicaid Task Force in the 108th Congress, and has led efforts in the House to reform and improve the Medicaid program.
“We have a growing challenge on our hands. Medicaid has surpassed Medicare and is now the largest public health insurance program in the United States with more than 50 million beneficiaries and expenditures of $300 billion,” Wilson said. “It’s time to take a serious look at making the Medicaid program work better for the people it serves.”
President Johnson signed the law establishing Medicare and Medicaid on July 30, 1965.
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