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The latest congressional leadership proposal for a "demonstrationproject" to test Medicare reform continues a tiresome pattern ofbad federal health policy that undercuts the effectiveness ofmarket-based health care reforms. Serious Medicare reform means onething: creating a premium support financing system modeled on theFederal Employees Health Benefits Program.
The House-Senate conference committee outline agreement this weekguts any serious long-term reform of the troubled Medicare programwhile proposing the single largest entitlement expansion in theprogram's history. Instead of enacting real reform at a datecertain and in time to accommodate the retirement of the massivebaby-boom generation, key congressional leaders are insteadproposing a limited "demonstration project" to test seriousMedicare reform, confined to a few areas of the country.
Washington lawmakers are floating the idea of a "demonstrationprogram" that would give seniors more choices by allowing privatehealth plans to compete directly for their business in a fewselected cities and one region of the country.
Congress should design a new system that incorporates personalchoice and market competition, as the FEHBP does. Medicare patientsshould have the means to choose a plan that best meets their needsand secure the drug coverage that their doctors think is best forthem.