AARP Indiana Key Vote News Alert: AARP Dismayed by Senate Vote to Block Medicare Improv...( Bipartisan Package Would Have Imp...),Health

Bipartisan Package Would Have Improved Benefits for Prevention, Mental Health and Low-Income Programs, Boosted Quality through National E-Prescribing

INDIANAPOLIS, June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today a minority of the U.S. Senate blocked critical legislation to protect and improve Medicare for the 44 million Americans who depend on it. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, which would have improved Medicare's prevention, mental health, and low-income programs and instituted a national program for electronic prescribing, was blocked by a group of Senators during a procedural vote.

INDIANA VOTED YES TO MOVE MEDICARE VOTED TO BLOCK MEDICARE

BILL TO DEBATE AND VOTE IMPROVEMENT BILL

Bayh, Evan X

Lugar, Richard X

** How a legislator votes on issues is only one factor in evaluating his or her legislative performance, which should also include such things as constituency services and committee work.

"While we are disappointed by today's outcome, we applaud Sen. Bayh for voting to improve Medicare and bring this bill to the floor for an up-or-down vote," said AARP Indiana State Director June Lyle. "This bipartisan legislation would have helped more Americans afford their health care bills while bringing our doctors' offices and pharmacies into the 21st century with e-prescribing. We look forward to continuing to work with Sen. Bayh and his colleagues to pass a bill this month to improve Medicare and keep premiums fair for the 44 million Americans who rely on the program."

Lyle added: "We are disappointed that Sen. Lugar voted to block this Medicare improvement bill from open debate and an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor. This bill would begin to bring down health care costs for millions of Americans by boosting Medicare's prevention, mental health, and low-income programs and promoting e-prescribing -- one way to reduce harmful and costly medical errors."

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