| On this date in 1965, the last great President from Texas, Lyndon B. Johnson, signed Medicare and Medicaid into law, providing medical care for senior citizens and some of the neediest members of our society. In the 45 years since, these programs have helped decrease the poverty level amongst seniors by two-thirds, and have only improved over time in order to meet the needs of those it is designed to help.
Bad-ass defender of our social safety net and all-star legislator Representative Garnet Coleman had this to say about today's auspicious historical date:
"It's hard to believe that a program so essential to the health of our seniors and individuals with disabilities was once controversial and decried with shouts of socialism.
"Forty five years ago, many seniors and Americans with disabilities were given an opportunity to continue to live with dignity. When President Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law, he gave a safety net to seniors, individuals with disabilities, and low income children.
"The new health care law is closing the Medicare doughnut hole. No thanks to the 'just say no camp', seniors have received $250 checks to help to pay for their medications. Our country needs to keep looking forward and continue to improve Americans' access to quality health care. We can't let Republicans take us backwards."
Coleman has been an unstoppable advocate for the health reforms passed into law and signed by President Obama. These reforms make Medicare and Medicaid work even more effectively for those who desperately rely, who literally live or die based on their access to care through these programs.
Specifically, the health reform bill phases out the Medicare prescription coverage gap known as the doughnut hole. In July, seniors began receiving $250 checks to help offset high prescription cost. By January, the health care law will close the doughnut hole by 50 percent, and by 2020 it will close the gap in coverage completely.
It's great to know that our Seniors are one step closer to not having to choose between paying the electric bill and buying their medications, or forced to cut pills in half to try and stretch out the time between refills.
Of course, to this day Republicans have tried to weaken or block these reforms, lower reimbursement rates, and make it increasingly difficult for Americans to access the health care they need. It is unfortunate that the Republicans continue to care more about the big insurance companies' profit margins than working Americans' ability to see a doctor.
So an extra thanks to Garnet Coleman for championing health reform, and thanks to the late, great LBJ for having the wisdom and foresight to implement these programs so that Americans can be one step closer to having reliable, affordable access to quality health care. |
