Krause to Grassley: Agree to Public Option for Increased Iowa Medicare Reimbursements

    

“An increase in Medicare reimbursement rates will benefit all Iowans.” - Bob  Krause

Bob Krause, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, is challenging Senator Charles Grassley to break the deadlock over health care reform by agreeing to a public provider option in exchange for increasing the Medicare reimbursement rates for Iowans.

Noting that legislation is stalled in the Senate over the question of creating a public provider option, Krause has suggested that Grassley could end the deadlock by dropping his opposition to the public option in exchange for insisting upon equity for Iowa in the Medicare reimbursement formula.

“I am calling upon Senator Grassley to be the statesman and come away with a reform bill that will benefit Iowa and the nation,” said Krause.   He noted that Grassley to date has been an advocate of a system in which private insurance companies provide all coverage.

Krause calls his proposal for Grassley a “Grand Compromise” that would benefit Iowans by creating greater equity in the Medicare reimbursement formula while also supporting a public provider option to compete with private insurance providers to reduce health care costs.

Pointing out that among all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Iowa ranks 49th in reimbursements per Medicare enrollee.  The disparity began when the Medicare reimbursement formula was changed in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.

“This has hurt the quality of medical care in Iowa as some doctors refuse Medicare patients because of the low reimbursement rate,” said Krause.  “On the flip side, continuing with only private providers for health insurance coverage hurts Iowans because it locks in a monopoly,” Krause contended.  “More than 80% of the health insurance market in Iowa is controlled by just two companies.”

“Having a public provider option for those who want it will provide competition for the insurance companies,” said Krause, “and an increase in Medicare reimbursement rates will benefit all Iowans.’

Krause will outline his “Grand Compromise” solution on Saturday afternoon during a press availability at the Des Moines Public Library in downtown Des Moines. For more information, go to Krauseforiowa.com