May 29, 2011
FACT CHECK: Allen West Falsely Claims his House Republican Budget Won’t Hurt Current Seniors
On Fox News Sunday, Representative Allen West (FL-22) falsely claimed that “there is no change for any senior 55 or above” in the House Republican budget.
In reality, the Republican budget would reopen the prescription drug donut hole, costing each of the four million seniors who fall into the coverage gap $2.2 billion next year alone. The Republican budget would also cut funding for the nearly 1 million long-term care patients. Additionally, the House Republican budget would end Medicare for future retirees, almost doubling health care costs for seniors according to the independent Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
FACT CHECK:
The Republican Budget Will Force Nearly Four Million Seniors To Pay An Additional $2.2 Billion For Prescription Drugs Next Year Alone. “The Republican-passed budget will force nearly four million seniors to pay an additional $2.2 BILLION for prescription drugs next year alone.” According to the Associated Press, “The coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefit would be brought back.” [DPCC, 4/21/11; Associated Plan, 4/6/11]
Ryan budget criticized for potential cuts to nursing-home care. “While House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is pitching his Medicaid overhaul as welfare reform, healthcare providers and liberal groups are warning that its greatest impact may be on seniors. Because Medicare does not cover long-term care such as lengthy nursing home stays, some 14 million seniors and people with disabilities instead rely on Medicaid. […] "One million patients require long term care through Medicaid every day," Mark Parkinson, the president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, said in a statement. [The Hill, 4/5/11]
AARP: Budget Undermines Vital Programs for Older Americans. “Among its provisions, the proposal would drive up costs for people in Medicare, take away needed coverage for long-term care from millions of older and disabled Americans and reduce critical help for seniors facing the threat of hunger.” [AARP, 4/7/11]
Wall Street Journal: The House Republican Budget for 2012 Would “Essentially End Medicare.” In April, West voted for the Republican House budget. “The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills,” according to the Wall Street Journal. [H Con. Res. 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11; Wall Street Journal, 4/4/11]
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For Immediate Release, May 29, 2011
CONTACT: Jennifer Crider & Jesse Ferguson (202) 485-3440
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