The Chicago
Tribune says the debate over adding prescription drugs to Medicare
is "more about Campaign 2004 than sound health policy," and has
produced lousy bills from both houses of Congress.
But the newspaper adds if there's to be a compromise bill now
being worked out by a Capitol Hill committee, the least it could do
is keep one feature from the House bill.
The one element worth keeping: A system where Medicare's current
fee-for-service program is forced to compete with private insurance
carriers in 2010. "That would be … a down
payment on the massive overhaul that President Bush and many
others have said is necessary so the entire Medicare system doesn't
dramatically slash benefits or go bankrupt in the not-too-distant
future," the newspaper wrote Aug. 24.
That system is based on the Federal Employee Health Benefits
Program (FEHBP), which The Heritage Foundation supports as the best
model for reform. FEHBP is simple: It offers about two-dozen health
plans with drug coverage and lets people choose the ones they like
best. This market-based solution solves the politicians' need to
offer prescription drugs to 77 million baby boomers aiming to
retire. But the Tribune says it "wouldn't be a tragedy" if the
Medicare bill falls apart, forcing lawmakers to go back to the
drawing board. Heritage couldn't agree more.
For more information or to receive an e-mail version of
"Medicare Maladies," contact [email protected]
or call Heritage Media Services at (202) 675-1761.
("Medicare Maladies" is a regular feature, launched 7/14/03, from
The Heritage Foundation. Sad to say, there's another malady coming
your way tomorrow. Daily "maladies" are also available on heritage.org.)
Report Health Care Reform
Medicare Malady #32: FEHBP, The One Element Worth Keeping
August 27, 2003 1 min read
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