Preserve and Strengthen Medicare

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues of our responsibility to preserve and strengthen the Medicare Program for future generations.

Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its annual Medicare trustees report, an update on the long-term solvency and effectiveness of this vastly important health insurance program.

While the report projected that the trust fund that finances Medicare's hospital insurance coverage will remain solvent until 2030, it also cautioned that a high number of Medicare beneficiaries could see their Medicare part B premiums sharply increase in January of 2016.

As a former healthcare professional and nursing home administrator, I understand the importance of providing access to quality care at a realistic cost. One of the ways we can make Medicare services more affordable is by targeting waste and abuse within the program.

With this in mind, I have consistently worked with my colleagues to introduce and support legislation aimed at reducing fraud and increasing administrative effectiveness.

I look forward to continuing these efforts and urge my colleagues to join me in finding new ways to safeguard and sustain Medicare.

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