| 00:00:00 | AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WILL HELP EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE MEDICARE TRUST FUND BY AN ADDITIONAL 12 YEARS, TO 2029, COMPARED TO 2017 TODAY. |
| 00:00:10 | IT CLOSES THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DOUGHNUT HOLE BY 2020 WITH AN IMMEDIATE REBATE THIS YEAR OF $250 AND A 50% DISCOUNT ON BRAND NAME DRUGS NEXT YEAR. |
| 00:00:20 | IT LOWERS ANNUAL PREMIUMS BY NEARLY $200 PER BENEFICIARY. |
| 00:00:26 | IT LOWERS ANNUAL CO-INSURANCE BY OVER $200 PER BENEFICIARY. |
| 00:00:29 | AND IT PROVIDES PREVENTIVE WELLNESS CARE VISITS FOR FREE. |
| 00:00:35 | WHEN WE PASSED HEALTH CARE REFORM DEMOCRATS STOOD UP FOR SENIORS BY STRENGTHENING MEDICARE AND CLOSING THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DOUGHNUT HOLE THAT WAS WIDE OPEN AND WOULD BE LEFT WIDE OPEN UNTHE REPUBLICAN PLAN. |
| 00:00:46 | UNDER THEIR RADICAL PLAN TO REPEAL HEALTH CARE, WE WILL MOVE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. |
| 00:00:51 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: THE GENTLELADY'S TIME HAS EXPIRED. |
| 00:00:53 | FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE? |
| 00:00:55 | >> I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE FOR ONE MINUTE. |
| 00:00:57 | REVISE AND EXTEND MY REMARKS. |
| 00:00:58 | THE SPEAKER PRO TEMPORE: WITHOUT OBJECTION. |
| 00:01:00 | MR. |
| 00:01:01 | WEST MORELAND: THANK YOU, MR. |
| 00:01:03 | SPEAKER. LAST WEEK THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES CONFIRMED WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW. |
| 00:01:07 | THAT HEALTH CARE SPENDING WILL INCREASE. |
| 00:01:09 | IT VIOLATES A PLEDGE MADE BY |
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, I have some excellent news to share. Just last week, the CMS' independent actuary released an analysis of the health care reform legislation that we passed last month here in this Chamber. Their report shows that we are strengthening Medicare.
Indeed, according to the Office of the Actuary, the Affordable Care Act will help extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by an additional 12 years to 2029, compared to 2017 today. It closes the prescription drug doughnut hole by 2020, with an immediate rebate this year of $250 and a 50-percent discount on brand-name drugs next year. It lowers annual premiums by nearly $200 per beneficiary. It lowers annual average coinsurance by over $200 per beneficiary, and it provides preventive wellness care visits for free.
When we passed health care reform, Democrats stood up for seniors by strengthening Medicare and closing the prescription drug doughnut hole that was wide open and would be left wide open under the Republicans' plan. Under their radical plan to repeal health care, we will move in the wrong direction. END