October 26, 2015

Contact:   Larry McNeely
                  National Coalition on Health Care
                  lmcneely@nchc.org
                  571-246-7063

NCHC Encouraged By Push to Avert Medicare Spike and Sequester
Rother Urges Smart Savings, Not Across-the-Board Cuts

Statement by National Coalition on Health Care President and CEO John Rother on reported progress toward a deal to address Medicare cost increases and sequestration

“The National Coalition on Health Care is encouraged that Congress appears close to a deal to stop the Medicare spike and partially roll back sequestration.

“The projected 52% increase in Medicare Part B premium and deductibles set for January 1 would shift billions of new costs onto beneficiaries, employers and state taxpayers. Continued sequester-level spending caps will strangle the investments in prevention and primary care that we’ll need to keep health care costs down over the long-term.  Allowing either the Medicare spike or sequestration cuts to proceed would be counter-productive to health and fiscal policy.

“But as the policy details and offsets are finalized, we urge negotiators to do all they can to avoid across the board cuts to health care consumers, providers and plans, focusing instead on targeted smart savings policies that yield better care at lower costs.”

 

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For more information about the coming spike in Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles, see NCHC’s Oct 14 forum: The Medicare Cliff.

For more information on NCHC’s recommendations on health care affordability and value, click here.

The National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC), the oldest and most diverse group working to achieve comprehensive health system reform, is a 501(c)(3) organization representing more than 80 participating organizations, including medical societies, businesses, unions, health care providers, faith-based associations, pension and health funds, insurers and groups representing consumers, patients, women, minorities and persons with disabilities. Member organizations collectively represent – as employees, members, or congregants – over 100 million Americans.

Some members of NCHC do not, or cannot, take positions either on specific legislation, strategies or on any policies outside their respective mission areas. However, all that can, do endorse broad policy positions in support of comprehensive health system change.