|
Obama Plans to Improve, Preserve Senior Health Care
By Sam King Kalamazoo Gazette
January 26 2009
What can elders expect in the way of health care now that Barack Obama is headed to the White House?
Here are some of the promises he made during the presidential campaign:
• He will deliver lower drug costs by ensuring that the government can negotiate with the drug companies to obtain lower drug prices.
• He is committed to ensuring that the Medicare program will always be there for seniors.
• He was in opposition to the health-care plan for seniors presented by Sen.
John McCain, who said he would cut Medicaid and Medicare costs by more than $100 billion a year. That level, Obama says, would mean reduced care for seniors and higher costs and a greater burden for the families of elders.
• He wants to invest in health-information technology so Medicare records can be computerized, thereby reducing medical errors.
• He wants to invest in chronic-care management.
• He wants to reduce health-care costs to no more than $2,500 per family.
Obama says Medicare is a solemn promise from our government to our seniors and that it's a promise he will keep.
The biggest driver of health-care costs is health-care inflation. During the campaign, Obama promised to take a number of steps to reduce health-care costs to no more than $2,500 per family. By reducing health-care costs, he hopes to reduce pressure on Medicare to increase its fees.
That's why health-care reform is critical to ensuring Medicare's promise to our seniors, he said
More Information on US Health Issues
|
