AARP Maryland Key Vote News Alert( AARP Dismayed by Senate Vote to B...),Health

AARP Dismayed by Senate Vote to Block Medicare Improvement Bill

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

BALTIMORE, June 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was issued today by AARP Maryland:

SUMMARY: 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.

MARYLAND VOTED YES TO MOVE MEDICARE BILL VOTED TO BLOCK MEDICARE

TO DEBATE AND VOTE IMPROVEMENT BILL

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Cardin, Benjamin X

Mikulski, Barbara 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 Senators Cardin and Mikulski for voting to improve Medicare and bring this bill to the floor for an up-or-down vote," said Joseph DeMattos, Jr., AARP Maryland Senior State Director. "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 Senators Cardin and Mikulski and their colleagues to pass a bill this month to improve Medicare and keep premiums fair for the 44 million Americans who rely on the program."

AARP has been advocating for several months to ensure that people in Medicare do
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