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Boustany- "What's at Stake for Seniors?"

Dec 9 2009

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., (R-Southwest Louisiana), today made the following comments on the House Floor highlighting proposed cuts to seniors’ health care in the Senate health care overhaul measure.

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“What’s at stake for seniors?

 

 “This week, debate continues in the Senate over a massive health care overhaul.

“Many seniors will probably see their benefits cut or higher premiums, including more than 140,000 seniors in my home state of Louisiana, who depend on Medicare.  The Senate bill cuts more than $135 billion from hospitals serving seniors.  It cuts $40 billion from home health agencies, $15 billion from nursing homes and nearly $8 billion from Hospices – all important services our seniors depend on.

“Seniors deserve to know how Washington Democrats are going to pay for their massive, new government-run bureaucracy because cuts like these will affect their care.

“As a heart surgeon, I know we can do better.  We need to work together to strengthen Medicare, putting it on sound footing to ensure it will be there when seniors need help with their health care costs.

“We need to lower health care costs for seniors and all Americans by increasing competition in the insurance market, promoting wellness programs and limiting frivolous lawsuits in medicine.

“We can accomplish these commonsense solutions, if we work together.  Let’s protect Medicare and help seniors who are struggling.”

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