Congressman Pete King

Social Security and Medicare

Social Security and Medicare are vital and essential programs which must be strengthened and put on a sound fiscal basis. Demographic shifts are having a profound impact on the solvency of these programs. To make sure that senior citizens continue to receive their benefits in the future, there must be comprehensive reform which should be done in a bi-partisan manner. This issue is too important for partisan politics.

Benefits

During the last four Congresses I have authored a bill that would amend the Internal Revenue Code to repeal the 1993 increase in income taxes on Social Security benefits which I strongly opposed. In the 111th Congress it is H.R. 882 and I am currently working to draw cosponsors.

I have also cosponsored H.R. 235, the Social Security Fairness Act, that repeals the government pension offset and so-called “windfall” elimination provisions. Additionally, Social Security disability payments have long been a hurdle for the Social Security Administration to overcome. To defeat this obstacle, I have cosponsored H.R. 1289 that would eliminate the five-month waiting period for terminally ill individuals who are applying for Social Security disability payments. Through these legislative initiatives I hope to move Social Security in a direction to assist more people.

Access to Care:

Nationwide, many physicians are restricting the number of Medicare patients they see because Medicare reimbursements do no cover their costs to provide services. Without permanent reform of the physician fee payment schedule, seniors on Medicare will have limited access to care. It is essential that we reform physician payments in order to make sure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to their doctors.

I am also working to keep durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, orthotics and prosthetics available under Medicare. This has included working with advocates and other members of Congress to convince the Department of Health and Human Services that Medicare patients must have open access to these supplies.

I am also fighting to make sure Medicare beneficiaries have access to physical and occupational therapy services. As you may know, Medicare has instilled arbitrary caps that prevent some beneficiaries from obtaining the rehabilitation services they require. That is why I am a cosponsor of legislation (H.R. 43) to permanently remove these caps and allow patients to access the care they need.

I am also very concerned that President Obama’s new health plan jeopardizes the coverage of senior citizens. This new law reduces Medicare by almost a half a trillion dollars by reducing payments to Medicare Advantage, nursing homes, and hospices. There is little doubt that senior citizens will feel the brunt of these cuts. I will support efforts to reverse these cuts and keep on fighting to make sure they do not go into effect.