Don't Privatize Medicare!
Privatization means increased costs for taxpayers, fewer choices for Medicare enrollees, and worse outcomes for seniors.
QUICK READ: Biden is implementing Medicare Direct Contracting, a Trump-Administration pilot program that will privatize the health care of millions of Medicare enrollees. Rather than selling Traditional Medicare off to the highest bidder, Congress must intervene to strengthen and improve its benefits while protecting enrollees’ freedom to choose their own providers.
TAKE ACTION NOW:
BACKGROUND
In late 2020, Trump’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created Medicare Direct Contracting (MDC), to move the care of millions of Medicare enrollees to private, mostly for-profit groups known as Direct Contracting Entities (DCE). DCEs need have no health care provider expertise, and they are created with no Congressional oversight.
A majority of seniors choose Traditional Medicare, which allows them to choose their providers and control their care, rather than Medicare Advantage, which is run by commercial insurers.
Under the Biden Administration’s implementation of Trump’s program, millions of seniors who’ve chosen Traditional Medicare will be automatically enrolled instead in a DCE. If a CMS search finds any visits with a physician affiliated with a DCE during the last two years, seniors are “auto-aligned” with that group and never informed they can opt out.
While Traditional Medicare spends 98% of its budget on patient care, DCEs can keep 40% for profit and overhead.
DCEs pose a serious threat to the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens. If not stopped, they could effectively privatize Medicare within the next few years.
We must alert our Members of Congress of this assault on Medicare and demand their immediate action.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
As your constituent, I am appalled at Biden’s implementation of Medicare Direct Contracting, a pilot program developed by the Trump Administration to privatize the health care of millions of Medicare enrollees. Please tell HHS Secretary Becerra and President Biden to immediately halt this program and push for hearings on this assault on the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.
SEN. WYDEN: Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
As your constituent, I am appalled at Biden’s implementation of Medicare Direct Contracting, a pilot program developed by the Trump Administration to privatize the health care of millions of Medicare enrollees. Please tell HHS Secretary Becerra and President Biden to immediately halt this program and push for hearings on this assault on the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
As your constituent, I am appalled at Biden’s implementation of Medicare Direct Contracting, a pilot program developed by the Trump Administration to privatize the health care of millions of Medicare enrollees. Please tell HHS Secretary Becerra and President Biden to immediately halt this program and push for hearings on this assault on the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
As your constituent, I am appalled at Biden’s implementation of Medicare Direct Contracting, a pilot program developed by the Trump Administration to privatize the health care of millions of Medicare enrollees. Please tell HHS Secretary Becerra and President Biden to immediately halt this program and push for hearings on this assault on the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
As your constituent, I am appalled at Biden’s implementation of Medicare Direct Contracting, a pilot program developed by the Trump Administration to privatize the health care of millions of Medicare enrollees. Please tell HHS Secretary Becerra and President Biden to immediately halt this program and push for hearings on this assault on the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.
Script for Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
As your constituent, I am appalled at Biden’s implementation of Medicare Direct Contracting, a pilot program developed by the Trump Administration to privatize the health care of millions of Medicare enrollees. Please tell HHS Secretary Becerra and President Biden to immediately halt this program and push for hearings on this assault on the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.
Script for Peter DeFazio (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
As your constituent, I am appalled at Biden’s implementation of Medicare Direct Contracting, a pilot program developed by the Trump Administration to privatize the health care of millions of Medicare enrollees. Please tell HHS Secretary Becerra and President Biden to immediately halt this program and push for hearings on this assault on the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.
Script for Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-588-9100 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
As your constituent, I am appalled at Biden’s implementation of Medicare Direct Contracting, a pilot program developed by the Trump Administration to privatize the health care of millions of Medicare enrollees. Please tell HHS Secretary Becerra and President Biden to immediately halt this program and push for hearings on this assault on the health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens.
