[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 122 (Thursday, July 30, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6148-S6149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
Mr. REID. Mr. President, 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.''
Further:
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.
You would think that based on the 50-plus times of trying to overturn
ObamaCare, that is what the Republican Senators were talking about,
but, no, that was Medicare. They weren't talking about ObamaCare;
Medicare is what they were talking about.
Fifty years ago, 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--and so many Republicans, the same thing.
In fact, Republicans still do feel that way. Even after decades of
Medicare's success, they are still clamoring for the program's
elimination or massive changes.
Jeb Bush--a frontrunner for the Republican Presidential nomination--
called for ``phasing out'' Medicare. Where did he do this? At a Koch
brothers rally in New Hampshire. Jeb Bush--a frontrunner for the
Republican Presidential nomination--said let's phase out Medicare. How
about that one?
For half a century, Republicans have continued to attack Medicare,
despite all the good it has done. They have tried to privatize Medicare
and turn it into a voucher system and reduce benefits for seniors.
Republicans attacked the closing of the prescription drug doughnut hole
and elimination of cost-sharing for preventative coverage simply
because they 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, the most needy of all, coverage simply because
of ideology.
This week they renewed their never-ending assault on women's health
by trying to defund Planned Parenthood in reaction to a radical
rightwing crusade by an extremist group. American women value Planned
Parenthood because they know Planned Parenthood provides vital health
care services to millions of women, but Republicans are choosing to
disseminate access to the health services of women. Women need this
health care to stay healthy.
Why are they doing it? I guess, 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 Americans' lives. Before Medicare, nearly half of all
seniors age 65 and older were uninsured. The elderly were discriminated
against simply because of their age. If you were fortunate enough to
have health insurance, you paid over 50 percent of the cost straight
out of your pocket.
My first elected job was from Clark County. That is in Las Vegas, NV.
I was chosen to be a member of the board of trustees of Southern Nevada
Memorial Hospital--the largest hospital district in Nevada. After a
year or so, I became chairman of the board of trustees. I was there
when Medicare came into being. Prior to Medicare, more than 40 percent
of all seniors who came into our hospital were required to have a
brother, a son, a daughter, a mother, a father, a husband, a wife or a
neighbor sign on the dotted line, saying: If that bill is not paid, we
will guarantee it is paid.
We had a collection department in that hospital that was very
aggressive and went after these people. That is how bad it was for
seniors, but today, 50 years later, about 99 percent of seniors are
insured and go to the hospital when they need care.
The cost during their working years is a small amount of out-of-
pocket costs. The program that we call Medicare 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. They
[[Page S6149]]
wanted to know where you lived, and if the color of your skin wasn't
just right when you were brought to the hospital, you went on your way.
Today the disparity in hospitalization rates between minorities and
White Americans has decreased significantly.
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
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 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 has also provided 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 allow them to remain in their
communities rather than relocate to nursing homes. But when they do
have to go to a nursing home, the vast majority of people in
convalescent centers in America are Medicaid recipients.
Sadly, 22 States have chosen not to expand Medicaid coverage, and
this decision has hurt millions of people who can't afford health care
any other way. Why do States and the Republican Governors of those
States oppose this? Because it is part of ObamaCare.
To his credit, the conservative Republican Governor from the State of
Nevada, Brian Sandoval, was one of the first Governors to sign on to
this program. He didn't care if it was a Democratic program or a
Republican program; it helped people in Nevada who needed help. I truly
admire him for doing that. The expansion of Medicaid in States
throughout the country would boost States' economic activity--and Brian
Sandoval knows that--and create job growth, in addition to providing
quality, affordable health care to vulnerable Americans. The State of
Nevada is a relatively sparsely populated State. Almost 200,000 people
are receiving the health care they need and would not have but for
ObamaCare and Governor Brian Sandoval.
Medicaid expansion would benefit every State. 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
gain.
Medicare and Medicaid have protected Americans for 50 years, and our
Nation is healthier and stronger because of its 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.
We will be celebrating ObamaCare's success 50 years from now while
Republicans call for the Affordable Care Act to be phased out, like Jeb
Bush wants. In 50 years, will there be a Republican Presidential wanna-
be out there saying ``Let's get rid of ObamaCare; let's phase it out''?
I hope not.
Republicans have repeatedly engaged in politically motivated attacks
designed to undermine the law that transformed our Nation's health care
system. The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Americans to
gain access to quality health care. Since the Affordable Care Act was
signed into law, 16.4 million Americans have gotten quality health
care--many of them for the first time in their lives. The United States
has seen the largest decline in the uninsured rate in decades, if not
forever. In the last 18 months, the uninsured rate for nonelderly
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. It is the law of the land, and
that is not going to change. There have been more than 50 votes to
repeal or undermine the Affordable Care Act and there have been
repeated challenges to this law before the courts, but we have won on
every level. The American people have won twice with the stamp of
approval by the Supreme Court. Last month we witnessed the Supreme
Court rule, as I have indicated, again for the second time in favor of
the Affordable Care Act. It is here to stay. It is here to stay because
the American people want affordable health care.
American seniors need affordable, accessible health care coverage,
and they need it right now.
Five decades ago--50 years ago--President Johnson said:
No longer will older Americans be denied the healing
miracle of modern medicine. No longer will illness crush and
destroy the savings 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.
The Republicans have spent the last five decades fighting against
President Johnson's dream. The Republicans are determined to roll back
access to health care for Americans. It is hard to believe, but it is
true. Just this week the Senate held a vote on whether to repeal this
lifesaving program--again. It is clear that after 50 years, the
Republicans have learned nothing.
We should be building on the success 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. Democrats
are committed--just as President Johnson was half a century ago--to
giving Americans the health care they need and deserve.
Will the Chair announce the schedule for today.
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