Carl Levin - United States Senator for Michigan: Issues - Medicare

Medicare

Medicare has been a vital part of our social safety net for decades, and I have been a consistent supporter of the program since coming to the Senate. I believe that strengthening Medicare – which includes steps to put it on a path to long-term fiscal sustainability – is necessary to make sure Medicare is always there for seniors.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes several provisions to strengthen Medicare. It provides no-cost preventive care for Medicare recipients. It shrinks the Medicare prescription drug “donut hole” that raises drug costs for seniors. And it establishes programs to improve the quality and lower the cost of treatment for Medicare recipients.

Opponents of Medicare continue to propose ideas that would give insurance companies more control over their care through privatizing the program. I will continue to oppose such plans.

Senator Levin’s Record on Medicare

Feb. 17, 2012 – Sen. Levin supports extension of middle-class tax relief
The Senate passes legislation supported by Sen. Levin to extend for a full year a cut in federal payroll taxes and extending emergency unemployment benefits. Sen. Levin calls the extension "important tax relief that is focused on middle-class families who have suffered greatly during the Great Recession."
Ongoing - My office can assist you with a Medicare issue
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March 25, 2010 - Sen. Levin supports historic health reform
Sen. Levin votes for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, which takes concrete steps to make health insurance more dependable and affordable for families who already have it and will coverage available for the first time to millions of uninsured Americans. The law also includes measures to help small businesses provide coverage for employees and to strengthen Medicare.
May 3, 2007 -- Bill would recover unpaid taxes from Medicare doctors
Sen. Levin and Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota introduce legislation that seeks to recover unpaid taxes from the estimated 21,000 health care providers receiving Medicaid payments who have failed to pay taxes. A Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations probe led by Levin and Coleman found an estimated $1.3 billion in unpaid taxes from providers receiving Medicare payments.