Reid: Despite 50 Years of Success, Republicans Are Still Attacking Medicare And Medicaid

Date: Thursday, July 30, 2015

Contact: Adam Jentleson, (202) 224-2939

Reid: Despite 50 Years of Success, Republicans Are Still Attacking Medicare And Medicaid

"Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law Medicare and Medicaid. At that time, conservatives believed that access to health care through government was the worst possible decision any elected official could make. In fact, Republicans still do."

"For half a century, Republicans have continued to attack Medicare, in spite of all the good it's done. Republicans have tried to privatize Medicare, to turn it into a voucher system, and to reduce benefits for seniors."

"After more than 50 votes to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act, after President Obama won an election that was based in part on the Affordable Care Act, after repeated challenges to this law before the courts, it is time to move on... The Affordable Care Act is here to stay. It is here to stay because the American people want affordable health care. American seniors need affordable, accessible health coverage.

Washington, D.C. - Nevada Senator Harry Reid delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the Republican attempts to deny health care to millions of Americans, even after 50 years of success with Medicare and Medicaid. Below are his remarks:

Republicans called it "the beginning of socialized medicine." The Wall Street Journal accused Democrats and the President of "politicking with a nation's health." One Republican Senator called the health care law "brazen socialism."

"It is not needed. It is socialism. It moves the country in a direction which is not good for anyone, whether they be young or old. It charts a course from which there will be no turning back....It is not only socialism - it is brazen socialism."

Sounds familiar, doesn't it" But those Republicans weren't talking about the Affordable Care Act. They were referring to Medicare.

Fifty years ago today, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law Medicare and Medicaid. At that time, conservatives believed that access to health care through government was the worst possible decision any elected official could make. In fact, Republicans still do. Even after decades Medicare's success, they are still clamoring for the program's elimination. Jeb Bush - a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination - called for "phasing out" Medicare at a Koch brothers pep rally in New Hampshire.

For half a century, Republicans have continued to attack Medicare, in spite of all the good it's done. Republicans have tried to privatize Medicare, to turn it into a voucher system, and to reduce benefits for seniors. Republicans attacked the closing of the prescription drug donut hole and elimination of cost-sharing for preventive coverage simply because these were improvements made by the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have repeatedly sought to destroy Medicaid, and Republican governors have turned back millions of federal dollars and denied their citizens coverage simply because of ideology.

This week, they have renewed their never-ending assault on women's health care by trying to defund Planned Parenthood in reaction to a radical right-wing crusade by an extremist group. American women value Planned Parenthood because they know that Planned Parenthood provides vital health care services to millions of women. But Republicans are choosing to decimate access to the health services women need to stay healthy in order to further their political agenda. When will the Republican attack on effective health care programs end?

Medicare and Medicaid have positively affected - and even saved - millions of American lives. Before Medicare, nearly half of all seniors age 65 and older were uninsured. The elderly were discriminated against simply because of their age. And if you were fortunate enough to have health insurance you paid over 50 percent of the cost straight from your pockets.

My first elected job was at the Southern Nevada Memorial Hospital board of trustees, now the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. I was there when Medicare came into being. Prior to Medicare, 40 percent of seniors who came into that hospital were required to have a signature from a friend or relative who agreed to be responsible for their medical bill or they were turned away. That's how bad it was for seniors. Today, 98 percent of all seniors are insured and can go to the hospital when they need that care. After paying into Medicare during their working years, seniors now pay 13 percent of health care costs out of pocket. This program is a lifeline.

Before Medicare and Medicaid, health care for millions of younger Americans was subject to racism and discrimination. A white American was 30 percent more likely to be admitted to a hospital than an African-American. In fact, in many cases emergency response calls were subject to race confirmation before action. Today, the disparities in hospitalization rates between minorities and white Americans have decreased.

Medicare and Medicaid have protected the health and well-being of millions of seniors, individuals with disabilities, low-income individuals and millions of children. In the past 50 years Medicaid has grown to be the nation's primary public health insurance program for low-income individuals and families. Medicaid has grown to cover nearly 70 million Americans including more than 40 million children. Today, Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in the United States and ensures that children receive the health care they so desperately need in the early stages of their lives. By providing early childhood health care to millions, Medicaid has improved the long-term health of children and contributed to their overall quality of life.

Medicaid also provides health care and long-term services to 16 million low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid pays for services that Medicare does not cover. It ensures that low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities have access to a wide variety of services. These options often allow them to remain in their communities rather than relocating to nursing homes. Today, 22 states have chosen not to expand Medicaid coverage. This decision hurts millions who cannot afford health care. The expansion of Medicaid in states throughout the country would boost states' economic activity, increase job growth in addition to providing quality affordable health care to vulnerable Americans.

Medicaid expansion would benefit every state. In Nevada, because of Medicaid expansion, more than 180,000 people are receiving the health care they need. The Affordable Care Act transformed Medicaid into a true safety net for vulnerable Americans. We should be expanding this coverage not restricting it for partisan gains.

Medicare and Medicaid have protected Americans for 50 years. Our nation is healthier and stronger because of their existence. But despite 50 years of undeniable Medicare and Medicaid success, Republicans remain committed to ending access to health care for those who need it the most. Can we expect this same behavior from Republicans on Obamacare" Fifty years from now, will we be celebrating the law's success while Republicans call for the Affordable Care Act to be "phased out?" Republicans have repeatedly engaged in politically motivated attacks designed to undermine a law that transformed our nation's health care system.

The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Americans gain access to quality health care. Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, 16.4 million Americans now have quality health coverage, many for the first time in their lives. The U.S. has seen the largest decline in the uninsured rate in decades. In the last 18 months the uninsured rate for non-elderly adults has fallen by 35 percent. Health care costs have grown at their slowest rate in 50 years. Patient safety initiatives are keeping Americans safe. The Affordable Care Act is working. And it is the law of the land. That is not going to change.

After more than 50 votes to repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act, after President Obama won an election that was based in part on the Affordable Care Act, after repeated challenges to this law before the courts, it is time to move on. Last month we witnessed the Supreme Court rule yet again in favor of the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act is here to stay. It is here to stay because the American people want affordable health care. American seniors need affordable, accessible health coverage.

Five decades ago President Lyndon B. Johnson said:

"No longer will Americans be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine. No longer will illness crush and destroy the savings that they have so carefully put away over a lifetime so that they might enjoy dignity in their later years. No longer will young families see their own incomes, and their own hopes, eaten away simply because they are carrying out their deep moral obligations to their parents, and to their uncles, and their aunts."

But Republicans have spent decades fighting against President Johnson's dream. Republicans are determined to roll back access to healthcare for Americans. Just this week the Senate held a vote on whether or not to repeal this life-saving program, again. It's clear that after 50 years, Republicans have learned nothing.

We should be building on the successes of Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. We need to be expanding coverage to all Americans. We should be encouraging states to expand Medicaid access to those who are in need.

Democrats are committed - just as President Johnson was half a century ago - to giving Americans the health care they need.

Link: http://www.reid.senate.gov/news/2015-07-30-reid-despite-50-years-of-success-republicans-are-still-attacking-medicare-and-medicaid http://www.reid.senate.gov/news/2015-07-30-reid-despite-50-years-of-success-republicans-are-still-attacking-medicare-and-medicaid