Peter Roskam Pulls Medicare’s Future Out of Experts

Peter Roskam speaking at the John McCain rally before the 2008 primary election.

If the Democrats redistricting of the seats in the U.S. House of Representative is upheld in court, McHenry County will be part of two districts–the 6th and the 14th.

Who will be McHenry County’s congressman in the 14th District is up for grabs. It appears that Randy Hultgren and Joe Walsh will face off in a GOP primary, if the current lines remain.

In the 6th District, however, the fourth-ranking Republican in the House, Peter Roskam, will be representing Algonquin Township. I doubt anyone can raise more money that Roskam. He always has been good at that.

So, in order to introduce McHenry County voters to the man who will be our conduit to the corridors of power in Washington, I’ll begin publishing his press releases.

In this one, Roskam gets the Medicare financial experts to tell when benefits in the system will have to be cut and by how much, if no changes are made.

Medicare Trustees Confirm Democrats Medicare Bankruptcy Plan Would Result in “Actual” 17% Medicare Cut

Obama Administration trustees also confirm “Medicare as we know it” ends itself in 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Ways & Means Committee hearing this morning on the 2011 Medicare Trustees Report, two of the trustees, Dr. Charles Blahous and Dr. Robert Reischauer, confirmed that based on our current path in 2024 there would be “actual” cuts to Medicare at 17%. They also confirmed that Medicare would end itself by 2024 unless actions are taken to save the program.

Watch the full video here, or the key excerpts video here. The transcripts are below.

Peter Roskam questions Medicare financial experts at a Capitol Hill hearing.

Key Excerpts:

Roskam: So that cut just so I’m clear, is not a hypothetical cut, it’s not a hypothetical delay, it’s an actual delay in payment to the point of reaching this 17-percent number based on your own projection. Is that right?

Dr. Blahous: That’s right. The Social Security Act which deals with these trust fund issues is very explicit that payments can only be made from the trust funds.

Roskam: So there’s no other flexibility. If the revenues aren’t there, if an insolvency is declared, you have no other remedy but to move forward and make those cuts. Is that right?

Dr. Blahous: Right. The programs don’t have the authority to borrow in excess of the resources provided by the trust funds.

Roskam: And absent some change in the program your prediction is that is where our nation will be in 2024. That’s right?

Dr. Blahous: That’s right.

Dr. Reischauer: With respect to the hospital insurance system.

Roskam: I understand. So when the gentleman from Wisconsin said that there’s a proposal that’s out there by the Majority on this Committee that ends Medicare. In fact, Medicare as we know it will end in 2024, absent some change in policy or some change in moving forward. That’s right isn’t it?

Dr. Blahous: Yes.

Here’s the YouTube of the questions and answers:


Comments

Peter Roskam Pulls Medicare’s Future Out of Experts — 1 Comment

  1. Charles Blahous, Social Security & Medicare Board of Trustee member, The newsclip said it’s 17% on average over 75 years, it varies according to year, in 2024 it’s about 10% but then it increases to become about 25% by mid 2040’s.

    – Next in the news clip Robert Reischauer, Social Security & Medicare Board of Trustee Member, said when the trust fund became insolvent, money would still be flowing in from tax receipts, and Medicare would delay paying bills, so a hospital would send its bill in, and rather than being paid in 24 days, might have to wait for 5 months; and the intermediaries and other payers would be writing out the checks and transferring the resources to the hospitals, hospices, etc. on a much delayed basis. –

    Delayed payments. We’ve seen that from the State of IL.

    – Next Charles Blahous says, the payments can only be made from the trust funds. The programs don’t have the authority to borrow in excess of the resources provided by the trust funds. –

    Excessive borrowing. We’ve see that from the State of IL. And my local school district.

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