Summit – Dr. P. Kelly Hatfield says that Congress needs to “get creative” ASAP and find a solution to the Medicare Part B Catch 22 situation it faces as current legislation is poised to expire in a mere 7 weeks. “By June 30th Congress will have to make the unpleasant choice of allowing a scheduled 10% cut in what doctors get from Medicare or once again increase the Medicare Part B premiums paid by Medicare patients.

 These premiums have more than doubled since 2000 and are another burden on our seniors many of whom are on fixed incomes and cannot afford it,” Hatfield said noting that at $93.50 the automatic monthly deduction from Social Security is close to 10% of many checks.

“Over the last couple of years Congress has handled this situation as it has so many others; by devising temporary fixes called patches and never really confronting the true issue at hand. Shuffling the cost burden to the doctors by paying them less and than back to the patients by charging them more makes the doctors reluctant to treat Medicare patients and patients not able to meet their basic living costs because the increases are greater than their cost of living increases to Social Security,” she explained.

Hatfield pointed out that rising costs for food, housing, gas and other basics have started to deplete the safety nets of many seniors if not eliminated them all together and expecting them to pay more and receive less is not the answer.

 “Congress needs to come up with a solution to this situation now and not procrastinate any longer as the bigger picture is even more daunting,” she said.

 Over 43 million Americans currently rely on Medicare for affordable health care coverage those numbers are projected to increase annually as this year the first wave of Baby-boomers became eligible to receive Social Security benefits and will be eligible for Medicare in 3 years. “In little more than 10 years all 77 million Baby-boomers will have flooded the system,” she remarked.

 “If every one thinks we have a tough situation now, what will it be like in the near future if left unaddressed?” Hatfield queried continuing, “we need improvements in the accessibility, cost and delivery of health care in the United States and lawmakers shouldn’t be afraid to tackle the issue head on in an impartial and nonpartisan manner.”

An outspoken advocate for families she believes that everyone should have the freedom to select a health care plan that best meet their needs. And that doctors and patients should be able to decide which treatments are the best for their particular situation.

 Dr. P. Kelly Hatfield is a proven leader in the fight against wasteful government spending and higher taxes. She has signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge for no new taxes and believes that the tax system must be clearer, simpler and fairer and that the Republican tax cuts need to be made permanent.

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