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For Immediate Release
July 29, 2010 at 8:00 AM
EDT
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For more information,
contact:
Greg White
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| Consumers
for Affordable Health Care Hosts 45th Birthday Party for
Medicare/Medicaid
The event is
the first of several that are being held throughout the
State to commemorate the 45 years since Medicare and
Medicaid were signed into
law.
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(BANGOR) On Thursday
afternoon over one hundred seniors and health care
advocates joined a luncheon hosted by Consumers for
Affordable Health Care (CAHC), Eastern Area Agency on
Aging (EAAA), and the Maine Primary Care Association
(MPCA) to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of the
Medicare and Medicaid programs becoming law.
President Lyndon B. Johnson originally
signed the law creating Medicare and Medicaid on July
30, 1965 in the President Harry S. Truman Library.
Truman and his wife were the first two enrolled
beneficiaries of Medicare. The two health care programs
are administered by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. Together
they cover approximately one-third of all Mainers. About
96,120 Mainers are enrolled in both Medicare and
Medicaid, called dual eligibles.
Christie Hager, the Region One Director of
the Department of Health and Human Services, offered the
keynote address and stated, "We're celebrating two
programs that, for the past 45 years, have provided
seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income
families and individuals greater access to health care
coverage. With President Obama's signing of the
Affordable Care Act, we're building on that history for
all Americans."
The celebration featured a
large birthday cake, giant birthday cards, and a broad
range of advocates, State Legislators, and staff from
Maine's 2nd Congressional District Delegation that
highlighted the benefits these two vital programs have
provided over the past 45 years. It also provided
information to the attendees on reforms and new benefits
they can expect to enjoy under the Affordable Care Act
(ACA) signed into law this past March. Those new
benefits include a rebate check of $250 for seniors who
experience a gap in their prescription drug coverage,
known as the "donut hole," that will eventually be
phased out completely by 2020; access to preventive
services without cost-sharing; and a free annual
wellness visit.
CAHC is
hosting a series of Medicare/Medicaid birthday parties
throughout the state to highlight the importance of
these public programs to Maine people and help educate
consumers about the changes and benefits the new law
offers. They are holding similar events tomorrow
(July 30th) at the Barron Center in Portland at 11:30;
at SeniorsPlus in Lewiston on Weds., August 11th at 2pm
and are planning an event in Brunswick later in August.
Governor John Baldacci also acknowledged the
significance of the anniversary of these two vital
programs by proclaiming July 30, 2010 as "Medicaid and
Medicare Recognition Day" in Maine. In his
proclamation, the Governor stresses how critical
Medicare is to providing affordable health care coverage
for seniors, compared to nearly half of seniors who
lacked coverage prior to its creation in 1965.
"Since their inception in 1965, Medicare
and Medicaid have played a critical role in providing
access to affordable health care for thousands of
Mainers who would have been denied private health
insurance because of their age, gender, or medical
condition. The new health reform law strengthens
these programs and prevents private insurance companies
from denying coverage to people who need medical care,"
said Joe Ditré, the Executive Director of Consumers for
Affordable Health
Care.
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Consumers for Affordable
Health Care
is a non-profit, non-partisan
organization that has been helping Maine people get
quality, affordable health care for more than 20
years. If you have any public or private insurance
questions please call our toll free consumer HelpLine at
1-800-965-7476.
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