AARP Backs Advancement of Senate Reform Bill

Efforts to pass sweeping health care reform got a boost as the AARP said it would oppose efforts to slow health care reform in the Senate. The group sent a letter to Senators asking them to turn down a request by Sen. John McCain (R.—Ariz.) to return the bill to committee. McCain’s amendment would rescind the nearly $500 billion in Medicare spending reductions contained in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which is being pushed to a vote by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D.—Nev.).

“AARP supports moving forward on health care reform, and we remain committed to enacting legislation this year that protects and strengthens Medicare, improves the delivery of health care and provides affordable insurance for all,” AARP CEO A. Barry Rand said in a letter. “Accordingly, we oppose the amendment offered by Senator McCain to recommit H.R. 3590 to the Senate Finance Committee.”

Rand said the organization believes the $500 billion in cuts can be made without adversely impacting care for seniors.

“AARP believes that savings can be found in Medicare through smart, targeted changes aimed at improving health care delivery, eliminating waste and inefficiency, and aggressively weeding out fraud and abuse. Such changes will help strengthen Medicare’s long-term financing without increasing costs for beneficiaries that make health care less affordable…. We believe that Medicare changes in this bill begin to move us down this path, without reducing guaranteed Medicare benefits.”

Keywords: health care reform, Medicare, John McCain,